Shrinkflation: a German court rules that Milka deceived its consumers by reducing the weight of its chocolate bars

For some, reducing the quantity or size of products is considered a serious offense. This Wednesday, a German court ruled in their favor: several consumers filed a complaint against the chocolate manufacturer Milka for having practiced shrinkflation : according to them, Mondelēz, American owner of the brand, deceived them by reducing the weight of the Alpine Milk bar from 100 g to 90 g without significantly changing its packaging, reports The Guardian.

The case, which lasted three weeks in a regional court, was brought to justice by the Hamburg consumer protection office.

The shrinkflationwhich consists of reducing the quantity of products without lowering their price, or even increasing it, has become more and more common, as manufacturers seek to compensate for the increase in operating costs and raw materials, particularly chocolate. After changes last year, the Milka tablet was a millimeter thinner and its price increased from €1.49 (£1.29) to €1.99 (£1.72).

Voted “most misleading packaging of the year” by German consumers

Among the other products affected by the shrinkflation : the Quality Street and Celebrations boxes were lighter, as were Terry’s chocolate oranges. 20g of chocolate has also been removed from the Toblerone, with the weight of the bar dropping from 360g to 340g.

Already asked about reductions in packaging size in the past, Mondelēz cited rising costs, whether for ingredients like cocoa and dairy products, or even energy and transport. The company claimed before the Bremen court that it had informed German consumers of the change on its website and social media.

The Oreo maker said it adjusted the weight of some of its Milka bars last year to continue providing consumers with the level of quality expected in an environment “more complex and volatile than ever,” Reuters reported. But this change earned Milka the 2025 “misleading packaging of the year” “award” from a German consumer association.

A similar episode in 2016

This is not the first time that Mondelēz has been sued for reducing the size of its chocolate bars. In 2016, the company faced a wave of criticism after widening the space between the Toblerone’s characteristic triangular pieces instead of increasing the price. Two years later, it was returned to the original form.

According to the court, a clear statement should have appeared on the packaging of Alpine Milk in order to avoid any confusion. This notice will be mandatory for at least four months to allow consumers to take the change into account.

A practice banned in France since 2024

The decision is not final, with Mondelēz having one month to appeal. The company said it was carefully reviewing the ruling. “Our goal has always been, and remains, to communicate transparently, comprehensively and responsibly with all those who purchase and enjoy our products,” she added.

In France, the shrinkflation is a practice prohibited since a ministerial decree published in May 2024 by Bercy which requires distributors to indicate to consumers when the quantity of a product has decreased but its price has remained unchanged. In 2023, the Foodwatch and Zero Waste France organizations served notice on Mondelez International (Côte d’Or), Rana, Daco Bello, Herta and Carambar (Krema) for having used this practice.

This year, UFC Que Choisir affirmed on April 1, before Easter, that the prices of chocolates continue to increase, with an increase of 4% compared to last year, while the price of cocoa has been falling for almost a year.