A regional court in Bremen has ruled that the confectionery giant Mondelēz misled consumers by reducing the size of Milka Alpenmilch chcolate bars. The court found that maintaining the original wrapper while cutting the product's weight constituted a deceptive practice toward the public.

The 1mm difference that cost Mondelēz its defense

The Bremen regional court determined that Mondelēz engaged in deceptive behavior by making its Milka Alpenmilch bars one millimeter thinner while keeping the outer packaging identical. According to the report,the court focussed on the gap between the actual contents and the "visually conveyed expectation" that long-term German consumers had for the product.

The legal challenge was initiated by the VZHH, Hamburg's consumer protection office, which argued that the snacking giant tricked its customer base. While Mondelēz argued that it had provided notifications about the changes on its website and social media channels, the court ruled that such digital disclosures were insufficient. The judiciary maintained that a "clear, understandable and easily perceptible notice" must be placed directly on the wrapper to avoid misleading the buyer at the point of purchase.

From 100g to 90g: The Alpenmilch price hike

The specific figures in the case highlight a double blow to the consumer: a reduction in volume paired with a price increase. As reported, the weight of the Milka Alpenmilch bar was slashed from 100g to 90g, yet the price rose from €1.49 to €1.99 at the start of 2025.

This combination of shrinking size and rising costs resonated poorly with the public, leading German consumers to vote the Alpenmilch bar as the "rip-off packaging of the year 2025." Mondelēz attempted to justify the move by citing supply chain disruptions and rising manufacturing costs, claiming that chocolate bar weights have historically fluctuated between 81g and 100g depending on the specific product line.

Cocoa shortages and the 14.6% price surge

The Milka case is a symptom of a wider global trend driven by environmental and economic pressures. Poor harvests in West Africa have significantly increased the cost of cocoa ,contributing to a broader spike in confectionery prices. The British consumer group Which? reported that chocolate prices surged by 14.6% in the year ending August 2025.

This "sneaky" tactic of shrinkflation is not limited to the chocolate industry. The report notes that in 2023, Mars Inc. reduced the weight of Whiskas cat food by 15% without lowering the price. Similarly, in 2025, PlayStation reduced the internal storage of the PS5 from 1TB to 825GB without a formal announcement, while maintaining the same retail price point.

The one-month window for a Mondelēz appeal

Despite the significance of the Bremen regional court's decision, the ruling is not yet legally binding . mondelēz has a one-month window to appeal the verdict,leaving it uncertain whether the company will accept the ruling or fight the requirement for on-wrapper notifications in a higher court.

Several questions remain regarding the scope of this precedent. It is unclear if this ruling will trigger similar lawsuits against other manufacturers in Germany or if the European Union will move toward a standardized regulation on packaging transparency. Furthermore, the report does not specify if the court will mandate a specific font size or placement for the required "perceptible notice" on the packaging.