In 2013 the RSPCA was forced to drop its endorsement of Otway Pork products and remove its Paw of Approval from the brand after receiving evidence of systematic animal abuse uncovered by Animal Liberation Victoria.

Some criticism that the label is misleading and open to abuse by producers. 'Bred free range' piglets are born outdoors, to mothers that live in the open, but once weaned (at about three weeks) and then housed inside and unable to range for the 16-18 weeks before slaughter. The mothers are however spared confinement in farrowing crates which many people believe to be the most inhumane aspect of intensive pig farming.

In September 2015 the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) accepted court enforceable undertakings from this company after investigations found that it had engaged in misleading conduct by labelling pork products as 'bred free range'. Between July 2000 and December 2014, Otway Pork promoted its products as 'bred free range'. The pigs used for these pork products were in fact born outdoors but raised indoors to straw based shelters from the age of approximately 21 days.