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Deceptive packages 2024: Consumers in uproar over brazen tricks!
The Hamburg consumer advice center nominates the “Deceptive Pack of the Year” for 2024. Five products deceive customers with hidden price increases.
Deceptive packages 2024: Consumers in uproar over brazen tricks!
The Hamburg consumer advice center has opened the search for the “deceptive package of the year” for 2024. Deceptive packages are products in which consumers are deceived by less content or price increases. This year, five candidates were nominated for this unwanted title.
The nominations include the **Granini Drinking Pleasure Orange** from the manufacturer Eckes-Granini. The composition has been changed so that it only contains 50% orange juice instead of 100%, without any indication on the packaging. The manufacturer justifies this change with a poor harvest in 2024.
Nominated deceptive packages in detail
Unilever's **Cremissimo Bourbon Vanille** is also in the running. This ice cream has seen a reduced quantity from 1300 milliliters to 900 milliliters, but the price remains at 3.99 euros, which represents a hidden price increase of 44%. The change is not indicated on the packaging.
The **Dove shower cream**, also from Unilever, is also nominated. Here the quantity was reduced from 250 milliliters to 225 milliliters, while the price was increased from 1.95 euros to 3.45 euros, which corresponds to a doubling of the price. The manufacturer cites a new product line as the reason, although the ingredients remain almost identical.
Last but not least, the **Biscotto wafers** from Aldi Nord were mentioned, the price of which has increased by 100%. This hidden price increase is attributed to expensive cocoa prices, and the lower quantity is advertised as a promotion.
What is interesting is that compared to 2023, the number of reported fraudulent packages fell from 104 to 67, while average price increases increased by 8%. This suggests that deceptive packaging remains a relevant issue for consumers.
According to an analysis by consumer advice centers, manufacturers often use deceptive tactics such as false bottoms or oversized packaging to pretend to have more content. They often reduce the filling quantities or save on ingredients without reducing the prices accordingly. The Federal Association of Consumer Organizations therefore demands that clear warnings be placed on the packaging if the composition or quantity changes.
Additionally, it is noted that oversized packaging is also common in other product categories such as cosmetics, dietary supplements and household cleaning products. Consumer complaints about misleading packaging sizes are increasing, leading to regular reports of deceptive packaging. From July 1, 2024, retailers in France will be obliged to indicate such packs.
For detailed information about deceptive packaging and its impact on consumers, further excerpts from research into food labels and ingredients can be found at Ruhr24 as well as Consumer advice center.
– Submitted by West-East media