Dole suspends Ethical Choice logo pending Philippines banana investigation
Oxfam has released a hard-hitting report calling for Dole New Zealand to remove the labels from its fruit until conditions have been improved.
Dole says the report, about the labour and environmental practices of its Philippines division Stanfilco is inaccurate, but it will investigate the claims further.
"If we find any practices that are not in accordance with our policies, those will be corrected promptly," Dole's New Zealand manager Steve Barton said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.
However, it wanted more information.
"We have already requested Oxfam to give us access to their researchers so we can begin this process."
While Dole was confident its use of the Ethical Choice label did not mislead or deceive consumers, it would stop using it on future shipments "in order to avoid any controversy and distraction to our business".
Mr Barton said Dole had a long track record of leadership on labour and environmental issues.
"Customers and consumers can be assured that we will continue to uphold the highest standards with or without the Ethical Choice label."
Source:news.msn.co.nz