Hidden price increases at Aldi: Financial expert uncovers trickery

Hidden price increases at Aldi: Financial expert uncovers trickery

According to a report by web.de, a type of tea from the discounter Aldi Nord was declared the “sham package of the month for November”. It is the type of tea Gutbio fennel tea, in which the capacity of 75 grams of tea has been reduced to just 40 grams, and the pack also contains fewer tea bags than before. The price has fallen from 1.49 euros to 1.19 euros, but due to the reduction in the amount of tea per pack, this corresponds to a hidden price increase of around 50 percent compared to the old product.

Aldi Nord has also reduced the capacity of similar types of tea such as Gutbio fruit tea and Gutbio herbal tea from 62.5 grams of tea or 50 grams of tea to 40 grams of tea, which corresponds to a hidden price increase of up to 35 percent. In addition, the Gutbio fennel tea is offered in a larger outer packaging, although the filling quantity has been reduced, which has a greater impact on the environment.

Aldi Nord has subsequently issued a statement in which they claim that the price has been reduced due to the reduction in quantity. However, the Hamburg consumer advice center describes this statement as a half-truth, as it ultimately represents a significant increase in the price. The organization Foodwatch has started a petition to encourage politicians to make hidden price increases visible. The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) is also considering a ban on reducing the contents of products if the packaging does not also become smaller.

The hidden price increase and the larger outer packaging of Gutbio fennel tea can lead to consumers being deceived and more waste being generated. Requiring transparent labeling of hidden price increases could therefore help consumers make more conscious choices and motivate manufacturers to use more environmentally friendly packaging solutions.