Financial expert reveals: Hidden price increases from well-known brands - what consumers need to know

Financial expert reveals: Hidden price increases from well-known brands - what consumers need to know

According to a report by rp-online.de, the yoghurt gums from Katjes, the Tuc Bake Rolls from Mondelez, a marzipan chocolate from Aldi, a mouthwash from Johnson & Johnson and the Oreo popsicles from Froneri were nominated as candidates for the “deceptive package of the year”.

The Hamburg consumer advice center complained that Katjes reduced the content of its yoghurt gums but left the price unchanged, which led to a hidden price increase of 14 percent. Likewise, Mondelez reduced the contents of its Tuc Bake Rolls from 250 grams to 150 grams and increased the price, representing a 127 percent price increase. Aldi and Johnson & Johnson were also criticized for reducing the content of their products without adjusting the price accordingly.

These “shrinkage practices” can have a significant impact on the market and consumers. On the one hand, they lead to a hidden price increase as consumers receive less product for the same price. In the long term, this can lead to a loss of trust in the affected brands as consumers feel like they are being deceived. On the other hand, reducing the contents leads to more packaging waste and thus harms the environment. Companies should therefore be more transparent with their price adjustments in order not to lose consumer trust.

Overall, the nomination of these products shows that the Hamburg consumer advice center critically monitors the companies' practices and protects consumer rights. The voting results for the “Deceptive Package of the Year” will be published on January 23rd, and it remains to be seen which product will win the title.