Recently, a Lidl muesli was awarded the title "Sham Pack of the Month" because the pack was only half full with goods. A random sample from the Hamburg consumer advice center now shows that the air number is no exception. The estimated proportion of air in a total of 15 products examined is between 50 and 95 percent.
In July, the Bircher muesli from Lidl's own brand Crownfield was awarded the title "Deceptive Pack of the Month" by the Hamburg Consumer Advice Center (VZHH), because the 400 gram Bircher Muesli only fills about half the can. The rest is pure air. And according to measurements by consumer advocates, that's about 9 to 10 centimeters the height of the can.
A current sample from the VZHH shows that this is not an isolated case. The estimated proportion of air is between 50 and 95 percent in a total of 15 products selected as examples based on consumer complaints, which consumer advocates had x-rayed.
According to this, all 15 articles checked are at most half full, many have even less content. Leading the pack in a negative sense is a plastic jar of KAL vitamin B12 tablets, which fills only about 5 percent of the pack; the proportion of air is therefore 95 percent.
With around 65 percent air, a baking mix for banana bread from Baetter Baking, an almond biscuit from Ricciarelli, a ready mix for an apple and nut mug cake from Lizza and the Knorr ham croissants perform particularly poorly. "Even organic manufacturers, whose products actually stand for more sustainability, waste valuable resources with air packs and at the same time deceive their customers," says Armin Valet from the VZHH, annoyed. 4 of the 15 products examined bear an organic seal.
According to the VZHH, air packs are hardly to be prosecuted from a purely legal point of view. The calibration and packaging law gives manufacturers a lot of freedom in the design of their products. Nevertheless, the VZHH regularly takes action against providers if it is possible. For example, she recently successfully enforced that Unilever is no longer allowed to sell detergent in an oversized carton and the aforementioned Bircher muesli in a half-empty can. A spice mixture from the Nicespice brand was recently warned.
Consumer advocates can always take legal action if the content is misleading. "If we want to punish oversized garbage packages per se, then our hands are tied. That's why the legislator must finally create better legal framework conditions to protect both consumers and the environment," demands Valet. Air packs waste resources and thus also damage the climate.
Anyone who feels duped when shopping can inform the Hamburg consumer advice center and describe the case at vzhh.de/luftpaket-melden.
