MILAN, May 6 (Reuters) - Italy's antitrust authority

said on Wednesday it had opened investigations into the Italian

arms of Spanish food delivery service Glovo, controlled by

Germany's Delivery Hero, and British meal delivery

company Deliveroo over alleged misleading claims about the

treatment of riders.

According to a statement from the authority, the companies

may have presented to consumers, including in codes of ethics

and "about us" website sections, an image based on ethical

standards and social responsibility that did not reflect

reality, particularly regarding riders' working conditions,

legal compliance and the use of algorithms.

Glovo's and Deliveroo's Italian arms said they were fully

cooperating with the antitrust authority and would provide all

information needed to support the investigation.

"The company operates in line with high internal standards

and in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations,"

Glovo's unit said.

"We will continue to engage transparently with all relevant

authorities to demonstrate that we operate responsibly and in

compliance with the law," Deliveroo's local arm said.

Officials from the authority, assisted by Italy's financial

police, carried out inspections on Tuesday at the offices of

Foodinho and Glovo Infrastructure Services in Italy, as well as

at Deliveroo Italy.

The investigations come as Rome has stepped up scrutiny of

the food delivery sector, which has grown rapidly in recent

years but has faced repeated regulatory and legal challenges

over workers' rights, the use of algorithms and the

classification of riders.