The Hamburg Consumer Center increases the alarm: with the food manufacturer Dr. For weeks, Oetker has been the package sizes of many products, while the prices remain unchanged. Products with cocoa or chocolate are mainly affected, but also fried products. The phenomenon, known as “Shrinkflation”, causes resentment among customers.
According to the consumer center, more than 100 complaints have already been received. Many products were reduced in their filling, without this being recognizable at first sight. The price increases as a result of lower quantities to 50 percent:
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Schokomüsli Feinherb: Package size of 600 g reduced to 400 g – price remains at 3.99 euros. This corresponds to a hidden price increase of 50 percent.
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Chocolate powder: Instead of three bags, there are only two left, at the same price of 99 cents – an increase 50 percent.
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Fruit graten in the cup: Vul hive shrinks from 500 g to 400 g, the price remains at 2.79 euros – an increase in 25 percent.
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Minikuchen marble cake: Weight reduced from 172 g to 140 g, unchanged price of 2.79 euros – 23 percent more expensive.
Consumer argues for doubt explanation
Dr. Oetker justifies the changes with increased production costs, supply chain problems and rising raw material prices, especially in cocoa. However, the Consumer Advice Center remains skeptical: the cocoa prices have risen in recent years, but how much this actually influences production costs is doubtful.
A sample calculation shows that the price supplement for a bag of pudding powder corresponds to a cocoa price of more than 24 euros per kilogram – considerably more than consumers in the supermarket.
Vague formulations not enough
However, the Consumer Advice Center shows that Dr. Oetker acts more transparent compared to other manufacturers. On the packaging there are clearly visible information such as “less content. Unhapped quality”. In addition, QR codes refer to the explanation of the company.
But from the point of view of proponents of consumers, this is not sufficient: instead of vague formulations such as “less content”, the exact reduction on the package must be given “600 g → 400 g (-33%)”.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
