Suche
Mein Konto
Shrinklation is spreading: Consumer advice centers choose deceptive packaging of the year
Find out which products were named “Sham Pack of the Year 2023” by the Hamburg Consumer Center and how shrinkflation affects consumers. Discover how customers can defend themselves against this deception.
Shrinklation is spreading: Consumer advice centers choose deceptive packaging of the year
A widespread phenomenon can be observed in German supermarkets: shrinkflation, also known as shrinkflation, in which the product content is reduced while the packaging size and price remain unchanged. The Hamburg consumer advice center therefore annually awards the negative “Deceptive Packaging of the Year” prize to the most conspicuous cases of this deceptive tactic.
In 2023, Mondelez's “Tuc Bake Rolls” were named “Deceptive Pack of the Year” because they recorded a price increase of 127 percent within a year while reducing the content from 250 to 150 grams. Consumers chose the product as a clear example of shrinkflation because of this obvious practice.
Shrinkflation extends across various product categories such as shower gel, ice cream, drinks, cheese or detergent and affects both organic products and conventional items. Consumers are asked to pay attention to weight information and to inform the consumer advice center if there are any suspicious changes. Some supermarkets are already warning about shrinkflation with signs.
The shrinkage not only leads to financial disadvantages for consumers, but also to increased environmental pollution due to unnecessary waste. Federal Consumer Protection Minister Steffi Lemke is therefore planning to take legal action against this deception in order to better protect consumers and the environment. In addition to the consumer advice center's “Deceptive Package of the Year”, Foodwatch awards the “Golden Cream Puff” for the food industry's most brazen advertising lies in order to draw attention to this problem and demand political measures.