A cheese company in Waikato is facing a reputation crisis after their discarded products were stolen from a landfill and resold illegally. The owner of Over The Moon cheese company, Sue Arthur, expressed her concern over the situation, fearing that the incident could tarnish their brand image.
Reports emerged that previously dumped Over The Moon cheese had been resold by unauthorized individuals in Putāruru through a local market and Facebook Marketplace. The company promptly reported the issue to New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) and the police are currently investigating the matter.
Arthur was shocked to discover that their discarded cheese was being sold without authorization. She emphasized that the quality of the resold cheese did not meet their standards and reassured customers that their products sold through authorized retailers were safe to consume.
Following the incident, NZFS issued a warning to the public not to consume the affected cheeses with batch numbers 18.11.25, 25.11.25, and 26.11.25. The list of affected cheeses includes Camembert, OMG, Black Truffle Brie, Galactic Gold, Halloumi, Gee’s Spread, Smoked Chilli Camembert, Goat Camembert, and Double Delight.
Vince Arbuckle, deputy director-general of Food Safety, expressed sympathy for Over The Moon Cheese, stating that such incidents are rare and concerning. He assured that efforts would be made to prevent illegal food sales, especially on social media platforms like Facebook Marketplace.
As the investigation continues, Food Safety is committed to addressing the issue of unregistered food businesses and ensuring consumer safety in the food industry.
