As of: January 4, 2024 3:30 p.m
A lot of things are currently becoming more expensive, and manufacturers are often reducing the quantity. The Hamburg consumer advice center is once again looking for the “deceptive package of the year”. Online voting runs until January 22nd.
Fewer goods at the same or even higher price: This form of hidden price increase is now common practice for many products such as food or drugstore supplies. In order to draw attention to this, the Hamburg consumer advice center is once again looking for the “deceptive package of the year” – this time for 2023.
There are five products to choose from, which, according to consumer advice centers, have become significantly more expensive in the past year due to reduced filling quantities and, in some cases, additional price increases. The list of nominees comes from hundreds of tips and complaints that consumer advocates have received. These are the candidates:
“Yoghurt Gums” by Katjes: Same bag, same design, but less content – instead of 200, there are only 175 grams of yoghurt gum in the pack. This amounts to a hidden price increase of 14 percent and means more packaging waste. Tuc “Bake Rolls Sea Salt” from Mondelez: Instead of offering the bread chips under the 7days brand, the manufacturer now offers the bread chips under the well-known Tuc brand with less content (150 instead of 250 grams). Through an additional The price increase makes the pack 127 percent more expensive. “Chocolat Amandas Edel Marzipan Whole Milk” from Aldi: The board looks bigger even though there is less in it. In addition, the manufacturer saves on marzipan, but sells the chocolate at a higher price. This deceptive package is more than 30 percent more expensive just a short time after the change. “Listerine Total Care” von Johnson & Johnson: Bottle of the same height, but less content. The manufacturer has made the bottle of its mouthwash narrower, but you can’t tell. In addition, the price increases. Consumers have to pay almost 34 percent more. Oreo ice cream sticks from Froneri: The manufacturer reduced the number of popsicles in the pack from four to three and made each individual popsicle smaller. Instead of 440 milliliters per box, there are only 270. With the same sales price, this corresponds to a hidden price increase of a whopping 63 percent.
Consumers can vote
Which product receives the title? Consumers can vote online until January 22nd. On its website, the consumer advice center also provides detailed information about tricks used by food manufacturers to hide price increases and gives current examples of deceptive packaging. Consumers can also report their own observations there by email.
Record for deceptive packages
In 2023, consumer advocates published more deceptive packages than ever before. By the end of the year, they added 104 products to their list. In 2022 there were significantly fewer at 76, and in 2021 only 47. Armin Valet from the Hamburg Consumer Center is therefore calling for consistent political intervention. Although the problem has been known for a long time, there has always been only lip service and no improvements.
A new key points paper from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) stipulates that if the contents of a product are reduced, the packaging of a product should also shrink in the future. Valet doesn’t go far enough. He demands that packaging must always be filled to the brim. “That would be a real paradigm shift.” Currently, up to 30 percent air is generally allowed in the pack, and in some cases even more.
Further information
According to consumer advocates, many providers make products more expensive by making them smaller. There are currently many complaints. more
Fewer products for the same price: Five products were available for the title. Consumers voted online. more
Some manufacturers use tricks so that increased prices are not immediately noticeable. This is how consumers recognize deception and air packaging. more
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NDR 90.3 | 01/04/2024 | 3:00 p.m