Anyone who thinks they are buying a well-known and common product, and then suddenly pay more for a smaller quantity, will probably feel cheated.
Protection Center consumer iz Hamburg accuses Mondelez of misleading consumers with its Milka with chocolate. The organization filed a lawsuit for unfair competition.
The regional court in Bremen ruled on Wednesday (May 13th) that the practice violates competition law. The court stated that the reduction in the amount of filling constitutes "relatively misleading packaging and therefore misleads consumers."
According to the court decision, the boards may no longer be used in this way or a fine of up to 250.000 euros may be imposed, as stated in the judgment.
Specifically, the court ruled that Mondelez may not sell a 90-gram pack if a 100-gram pack has been offered in the previous four months. The judgment is not yet legally binding. Mondelez has parvo complaints.
What exactly is it about?
"While the packaging and design remained identical, the chocolate bar itself became imperceptibly thinner by about one millimeter," criticizes the Center for Consumer Protection.
Many Milka chocolates in Germany now weigh 90 grams instead of 100 grams. At the same time, the sale price increased from 1,49 (about 175 dinars) to 1,99 euros (about 235 dinars).
Consumers in Serbia have also noticed that chocolate has decreased in recent years. Instead of the former hundred grams, Milka is now sold in 80 gram packages, although there are some exceptions.
In mid-May 2026, this chocolate retails for around 200 dinars.
What does the manufacturer say?
The manufacturer itself rejects criticism. A spokeswoman for Mondelez said that the weight is clearly indicated on the packaging. The lawyer of the concern additionally argued before the court that the quantity had varied before depending on the type of chocolate - between 81 and 100 grams per bar.
Mondelez also announced that it informs customers about chocolates through its website and social media. In addition, the spokeswoman pointed to rising costs throughout the supply chain.
"As a result, last year we decided to adjust the weight of some of our Milka boards."
Why are chocolate prices rising so much?
In recent years, chocolate has become significantly more expensive. The cause was harvest failures in West Africa due to plant diseases and extreme weather conditions, which are becoming more frequent due to the climate crisis.
According to data from the Federal Bureau of Statistics, a bar of chocolate was on average 71 percent more expensive in March than in 2020. Due to higher prices, consumers have recently bought less chocolate.
Source: Spiegel
Real journalism costs money, and we will not be bought by tycoons and corporations. Support us with a one-time or monthly donation. The time for it is now!
