A German regional court in Bremen ruled that Mondelēz International deceived consumers by trimming its Milka Alpine Bar by 10 g while keeping the same wrapper and raising the price.. The judgment, brought by Hamburg’s consumer protection office, marks a rare legal challenge to the shrinkflation practice that many manufacturers have used to protect margins amid rising costs.

Milka Alpine Bar loses 10 g and gains €0.50 in price

The court found that the popular Milka Alpine Bar was reduced from 100 g to 90 g, a full millimetre thinner, yet its packaging remained unchanged. despite the size cut, the price rose from €1.49 to €1.99 at the start of 2025, prompting the consumer office to argue that shoppers were misled about the product’s true weight.

Consumer watchdog VZHH’s case hinges on ‘visual expectation’

According to the Hamburg consumer protection office (VZHH), the deception lay not merely in the weight change but in the “visuually conveyed expectation” created by the unchanged wrapper. the court echoed this view,stating that a “clear, understandable and easily perceptible notice on the wrapper” was required to avoid misleading buyers.

Other shrinkflation examples: Mars cat food and PlayStation storage

The ruling arrives as similar tactics have surfaced elsewhere: Mars Inc. cut Whiskas cat food by 15 % in 2023 without price adjustments , and Sony’s 2025 PS5 update reduced internal storage from 1 TB to 825 GB while keeping the retail price steady. these cases illustrate how widespread the practice has become across food and tech sectors.

What remains uncertain: Mondelēz’s appeal and broader legal impact

Mondelēz has one month to appeal the decision, meaning the verdict is not yet binding. If the appeal fails, the judgment could set a precedent for stricter labeling requirements, forcing companies to disclose size reductions more transparently. As Which? reported, chocolate prices have risen 14.6 % in the year to August 2025, adding pressure on manufacturers to protect margins without eroding consumer trust.