Australian supermarket chain Woolworths has been ordered to pay AUD$3 million by the Australian Federal Court, for misleading customers over product safety issues with private label products sold in its stores. False or misleading representations concerned the safety of Woolworths’ house brand deep fryer, safety matches, a drain cleaner, a padded flop chair and a folding stool, whose defects caused serious injuries. According to the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC), the company was aware of the defects, but failed to recall and remove its unsafe products for some time, placing consumers’ safety at risk. Woolworths issued a statement in response to the rulings, emphasising that the company acknowledged the failures in its quality processes and ‘takes product safety and quality extremely seriously.’
WOOLWORTHS FINED FOR SAFETY ISSUES
