German Court Says Mondelez Misled Consumers on Milka Chocolate Bar Weight
German Court Ruling on Milka Chocolate Bar Packaging and Weight Reduction
Background of the Case
May 13 (Reuters) - A German court ruled on Wednesday that U.S.-based food giant Mondelez misled buyers by shrinking its Milka chocolate bars from 100 grams to 90 grams without significantly altering the packaging, backing a lawsuit by a consumer protection agency.
Court's Findings and Expectations
Visual Expectations vs. Actual Weight
• According to the court, the expectation visually conveyed by the packaging of a product that has been familiar to consumers for years clashes with the actual net weight of the content, which was reduced in early 2025
Requirement for Clear Notice
• The court says a comprehensible and clearly visible notice should have been included on the packaging to avoid confusion
Duration of Notice Requirement
• It says the notice would be required for at least a period of four months following the cut in quantity to allow consumers to take in the change
Legal Proceedings and Company Response
Appeal Process
• The ruling is not final, with the defendant having one month to lodge an appeal with the court
Mondelez's Statement
• "We take note of and take seriously today's court ruling and are now examining the court's reasoning in detail," a spokesperson for Mondelez told Reuters, adding it would continue to strive for clear communication regardless of it
Reason for Weight Adjustment
• The Oreo-maker said it had adjusted the weight of some of its Milka bars last year to continue providing consumers with the expected quality standard in an environment that is "more complex and unstable than ever before"
(Reporting by Linda Pasquini and Patricia Weiss, Editing by Louise Heavens)
