Customers do not like price increases, which is why many manufacturers prefer to save on content. It comes to the same thing, but is not so easily noticeable. The Hamburg consumer center takes a closer look and regularly chooses the “sham package of the month”.
A few fewer chocolate chips, who will notice? Manufacturer Mars has reduced the number of M & M’s in its packs, while the retail price has remained the same. The 330-gram pack now only has 300 grams, 250 became 220 grams and 281 shrunk to 255 grams. Mars regularly uses the trick: Since 2007, M & M’s have become 119 percent more expensive.
Particularly bold: the smaller packs are now advertised with a red ribbon and the imprint “Large” – just as if they were promotional goods with a few extra lenses inside.
Mars cites the renouncement of the artificial dye titanium dioxide and higher costs in logistics and procurement as the reason for the price increase. The consumer advocates complain that the cheapest ingredients such as palm fat and artificial flavors are still included – and above all: 66 percent sugar. That is significantly more than in milk chocolate or gummy bears.
Illustrated series of mold packages
The consumer center in Hamburg has already denounced many well-known manufacturers as sham packaging of the month. The chocolate Santa Claus and the smiley bunny from Milka were just as much among them as the pasta sauce Miracoli or muesli from Dr. Oetker. Milka manufacturer Mondelez also criticized the consumer advocates for moving away from the 100-gram standard size to 93, 87 or 81-gram bars and for shrinking some 300-gram bulk packs to 270 or 280 grams.
Once a year, the consumer advice center lets five candidates vote on the sham packaging of the year. The classic spaghetti from Miracoli received the negative award for 2019. Our photo gallery shows more sham packs from the past few months.
++ Here you will find sham packaging from the industry that are still on supermarket shelves today ++
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
