The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has fined two frozen dessert manufacturers Rs75 million each for misleading consumers by falsely marketing their products as “ice cream.”
The action followed a complaint from Pakistan Fruit Juice Company (Pvt) Limited, maker of “Hico” ice cream, which accused the companies of deceptive advertising through television commercials and social media, presenting their “frozen desserts” as ice cream.
The CCP launched a formal inquiry and issued show-cause notices to Unilever Pakistan and Friesland Campina Engro, manufacturers of frozen desserts under the “Walls” and “Omore” brands, respectively.
The CCP bench, consisting of members Salman Amin and Saeed Ahmed Nawaz, referred to the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) PS 969-2010 and the Punjab Pure Food Regulations 2018 during the hearings. These standards define “ice cream” as a product made from milk, cream, or dairy products, while “frozen desserts” are made with a pasteurized mix containing milk, milk products, and edible vegetable oils.
