German Court Rules Milka Packaging Misleading on Weight

A German regional court in Bremen ruled Wednesday that U.S.-based food company Mondelez International misled consumers by reducing the weight of its Milka Alpenmilch chocolate bars from 100 grams to 90 grams while keeping the packaging largely unchanged. The decision, stemming from a case brought by Hamburg's consumer protection center, Verbraucherzentrale Hamburg, found the practice violated Germany's law on unfair competition.

The weight reduction took effect at the start of 2025, coinciding with a retail price increase from 1.49 euros to 1.99 euros. The bar became about one millimeter thinner, but the familiar purple wrapper showed minimal visible changes, with the new net weight printed in small type on the front, often obscured in stores. The court described the packaging as creating a "visually conveyed expectation" that clashed with the actual contents, labeling it a deceptive practice known as a Mogelpackung.

Judges mandated that Mondelez include a clear, understandable, and easily perceptible notice on the packaging for at least four months after any future quantity reduction, to allow consumers time to adjust. Failure to comply could result in fines up to 250,000...