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Rama becomes cheat pack of the year 2022

Year after year, the Hamburg Consumer Advice Centre awards the negative „Deceptive Package of the Year“ prize to companies that, in the opinion of the institution and the voting consumers, engage in misleading marketing. In this year's vote, the margarine „Rama“ took first place.

Year after year, the Hamburg Consumer Advice Centre awards the negative „Deceptive Package of the Year“ prize to companies that, in the opinion of the institution and the voting consumers, engage in misleading marketing. In this year's vote, the margarine „Rama“ took first place.

Consumers have voted „Rama“ the „Cheat pack of the year 2022“. Since last year, the spreadable fat from the manufacturer Upfield has been sold in 400 grammes instead of 500 grammes at the same price in a tin of the same size. This made the product 25 per cent more expensive. The Hamburg Consumer Centre, which conducts the „Deceptive Package of the Year“ award every year, is calling on legislators to better protect consumers from such hidden price increases.

Well-known brands on the podium

In addition to „Rama four other products as the possible „Cheat pack of the year 2022“. The runner-up is the „Leerdammer“ sliced cheese, whose contents shrank from 160 to 140 grams, although „permanently 1 disc more“ was promised. Third to fifth place went to the water softener „Calgon“, „Goldbären“ from Haribo and „Pringles“ crisps.

There were five products to choose from for the "Cheat pack of the year". (Image: Consumer advice centre Hamburg)

With a total of 34,293 votes cast, more than twice as many consumers took part in the election compared to the previous year.

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„Upfield has overstepped the mark and Rama more than deserves to be voted ‚cheat pack of the year‘,“ says Armin Valet from the consumer advice centre in Hamburg. „When the contents shrink but the pack does not, consumers have hardly any chance of, to notice the “less is more" trickery." As spreadable fat is also a frequently purchased foodstuff that is almost always sold in 500 gram tubs, the consumer advice centre believes that this approach is particularly brazen. Never before had the consumer advice centre received so many complaints about a product. Upfield also reduced the filling quantities of its Lätta, Sanella, Becel and Violife brands last year.

„But it's not just the customers who lose out - the environment also comes off badly. Upfield now needs half a million more plastic cups to fill 1,000 tonnes of Rama„, explains Valet. The company's website states: „We consider it our duty to be committed to responsible procurement, resource utilisation and production.“

Consumer advice centre in Hamburg sues Upfield

It is often difficult to determine what constitutes deceptive packaging in the legal sense due to incomplete specifications. „However, if there are suddenly 100 grams less spreadable fat in the identical cup without any special labelling, this is clearly misleading.“ The Hamburg consumer advice centre has therefore filed a lawsuit against Upfield. Negotiations are being held on the reduced content of Sanella vegetable margarine; here too, the tub now only contains 400 grams instead of 500 grams.

Last year, the Hamburg Consumer Advice Centre received significantly more reports of deceptive packaging. Consumers not only reported branded products, but increasingly also private label products from retailers.

Source: Consumer advice centre Hamburg

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