Mirácoli from Mars was voted „Cheat pack of the year 2019“ in a vote by the Hamburg consumer advice centre.
More than a third of a total of 43,044 votes cast went to the ready-made pasta dish that has been sold without cheese since last year. Politicians must finally provide consumers with better information. from the trickery of companies protect, says the Consumer advice centre Hamburg and demands a Transparency platform for food packaging.
Much displeasure over cheese shrinkage
„We have received a lot of complaints about Mirácoli,“ reports Armin Valet from the consumer advice centre in Hamburg.
Manufacturer Mars not only saves on cheese, but also on tomato sauce and seasoning mix. But retailers sell the pasta dish still at the old price. You will look in vain for a separate reference to the reduced contents on the Mirácoli carton.
Next to the Mirácoli pasta were four other products as a possible „Cheat pack of the year 2019“. The runner-up, just behind Mirácoli, is a Carrot juice from Hipp, whose price has more than doubled. Third to fifth place is taken by a Rama margarine, Chocolate from Milka and the Frosties cereals.
Improving the situation for consumers
While the manufacturers the filling quantity the dealers place laut Antitrust law the prices.
„We have hardly any chance of recognising hidden price increases in retail, and we can't take any legal action,“ says consumer advocate Valet. „One person passes the buck to the other and in the end it wasn't anyone's fault.“
Federal Consumer Protection Minister Christine Lambrecht According to press reports, the company now wants to ensure that hidden price increases for more clarity is taken care of.
„We take the minister at her word and are calling for a transparency platform on which manufacturers must publish changes to filling quantities, including the RRP. If this information were supplemented by retail prices, consumers would no longer be so easily ripped off.“
More and more complaints to the consumer advice centre
Over 2,500 complaints of deceptive packaging were received by the Hamburg Consumer Advice Centre last year. In addition to Hidden price increases Consumers are particularly annoyed by Packaging with lots of air and little content, that pollute the environment. If you're tired of cheating, you should do politics with your shopping list, advises Valet.
„Only if we all leave the products on the shelves that we are annoyed about will the companies perhaps finally come to their senses.“
At the sixth choice more consumers took part in the „Cheat Pack of the Year 2019“ than ever before.
Source: Consumer advice centre Hamburg
