Overview
- The federal government agreed on a rule requiring retailers to flag unchanged-price quantity reductions for 60 days, with fines up to €15,000 for violations.
- Verbraucherzentrale Hamburg’s database now lists more than 1,000 suspected cases, with 77 products added in the past year as reported growth continues.
- The watchdog cites an average hidden price increase of 28.4% in 2025 and says smaller packs let companies push through larger hikes without notice.
- Mondelez’s Milka bar fell from 100g to 90g while the shelf price rose from €1.49 to €1.99, prompting a lawsuit from the Hamburg consumer group over alleged deception.
- Industry bodies BVE and HDE point to heavy cost pressures and caution against new mandates, noting some firms also change recipes or ingredients to manage expenses.