a2 Milk is taking on national broadcaster the ABC in the federal court over a segment on its program The Checkout that questioned the company's scientific claims.
The company markets its products on the back of its healthier milk protein platform. Its milk comes only from cows that produce only A2 protein and no A1, which it says might cause tummy discomfort in some people.
In April 30, The Checkout ran a segment on "the latest bogus developments in milk science".
a2 Milk in turn claims the ABC breached consumer law and engaged in "deceptive and misleading conduct". It also says the show breached the ABC's code of conduct.
Peter Nathan, the chief executive of a2 Milk said he was "at a loss as to why a taxpayer-funded organisation singled out a small Australian company as a target" according to a Fairfax Media report.
"I was astonished that the ABC could allow one of its externally produced programmes to be advertised in a misleading and deceptive manner," Mr Nathan said. "There were statements that were factually incorrect and inaccurate and it seems it made no attempt at all to provide anything resembling balance."
Executive producer of The Checkout, Julian Morrow, said: "Even just hearing about the legal action gives me a feeling of discomfort in my tummy, and I can't say if drinking a2 Milk would help with that at all," according to the report.
The ABC says it rejects the suggestion that there has been any misleading and deceptive conduct on the part of the ABC.
The case will be heard next month.
