A German court has ruled that Mondelēz, the American owner of candy brand Milka, must clearly disclose product size reductions on packaging for at least four months.
The regional court in Bremen found that Mondelēz reduced the weight of Milka's Alpine Milk bar from 100 grams to 90 grams while keeping the purple wrapper virtually identical and raising the price from €1.49 to €1.99. The bar became just a millimeter thinner, making the change barely noticeable to consumers.
The Hamburg consumer protection office brought the case to court after three weeks of deliberation resulted in a ruling in favor of consumers. The court declared that a clear, prominent notice about the size reduction should have been displayed on packaging.
The reduction is an example of "shrinkflation," a practice that has become common in the chocolate industry as cocoa prices climbed due to poor harvests in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, which supply over half the world's cocoa. Manufacturers have faced a choice between raising prices openly or reducing product sizes.
Mondelēz claimed it informed the public through its website and social media channels. However, the court's ruling emphasizes that most consumers shop in stores and assume familiar products in familiar wrappers have not significantly changed.
German consumers voted the Milka Alpine bar the worst "rip-off packaging of the year 2025" in an online poll.
This is not Mondelēz's first controversy over product changes. In 2016, the company modified Toblerone's distinctive shape by widening gaps between its triangular chunks. The backlash was so severe that the company reversed the decision two years later.
Mondelēz said it is examining the ruling and claims its "aim has always been to communicate transparently." The company has one month to lodge an appeal.
