Status: 13.10.2023, 17:54 PM
By: Robin Dittrich
CommentsShare
Food does not necessarily contain what is indicated as a taste. The consumer advice centre calls this a "legal consumer deception".
Kassel – Does food really contain what is promised on the label? The fact that this is not always the case has now been revealed by the Hamburg Consumer Advice Centre. There is a lot of cheating going on in supermarkets and discounters. "Shrinking" is also a trick of the supermarkets.
Consumer advice centre uncovers deception on labels in supermarkets
If the label of a product in the supermarket says "vanilla flavor", many consumers probably assume that it contains vanilla. The situation is similar with pistachios or nuts – these are not always found in the food despite the image on the label. It can always be problematic if the words "taste", "flavour", "taste" or "type" have been printed on food labels.
Food does not always contain what is written or depicted on the label – consumers should read carefully. © photothek/Imago (symbolic image)
The imprint "vanilla flavor" does not necessarily mean that vanilla is included, rather it is usually just flavors that have been added. This practice is not illegal, but for the Hamburg Consumer Advice Centre it is still a "legal consumer deception". Consumers may assume that a particular ingredient is present but cannot be found on the list of ingredients because of the inscription or images on the label.
These products in the supermarket do not contain what they say on the label
The consumer advice centre has found this practice on many ready-made products in the supermarket. Particularly popular is the "vanilla flavor" already described. Whether in drinks, dessert sauce or popular yoghurts: Although the vanilla can be read on the front of the label and is therefore a clear purchase criterion, only flavour can be found in the list of ingredients. A popular yoghurt with Müller's corner also contains only a pistachio flavouring, although the pistachios were even printed on the packaging.
"From a purely legal point of view, descriptions with the addition of type, taste or taste are permitted. But many consumers still fall for the label fraud because they are not clear about the meaning," the consumer advice center sharply criticizes. If it were up to consumer advocates, this sales practice would no longer be allowed. A thorn in the side of the consumer advice centre are also deceptive packaging. Products in supermarkets are reduced in size while the price remains the same, so that consumers do not notice this hidden price increase.