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Hamburg Consumer Watchdog Opens Vote for 'Shrinkflation Offender of the Year'

The campaign spotlights hidden price hikes averaging 28.4% that outpace the 2.1% official food inflation to press for clearer labeling.

Overview

  • Public voting runs through January 20 to choose among five nominees singled out for concealed price increases.
  • The nominees are Milka chocolate, a Dr. Oetker cake mix, Kölln muesli, Knorr pasta, and Jacobs 3‑in‑1 coffee sticks.
  • According to the watchdog’s calculations, the hidden increases are roughly Milka 48%, Dr. Oetker about 90%, Kölln nearly 30%, Knorr 29%, and Jacobs 56%.
  • The group’s 'Mogelpackung' list expanded by 77 products last year, the second‑largest annual rise since tracking began.
  • Verbraucherzentrale Hamburg reiterates demands for mandatory notices of quantity reductions and packaging that reflects actual contents, and notes a pending lawsuit filed in September against Mondelez over Milka labeling.