Milka maker milked shoppers over size of chocolate bars, German court rules

A German court has ruled that Milka's owner, Mondelēz, deceived consumers by reducing the size of its classic Alpine Milk chocolate bar from 100g to 90g without significantly changing the packaging. The Hamburg consumer protection office brought the case, accusing the company of shrinkflation. The court found that Mondelēz should have provided a clear notice on the packaging for at least four months to inform consumers of the change. This ruling follows previous instances of Mondelēz facing criticism for reducing chocolate bar sizes, including its Toblerone brand. Mondelēz is reviewing the ruling and has the option to appeal within a month.

A German court has ruled that Mondelez, the manufacturer of Milka chocolate, misled consumers by reducing the weight of its classic Alpine Milk bar from 100g to 90g while keeping the same packaging. The Bremen regional court found this practice to be a violation of competition law. The case was brought by Hamburg's consumer protection office, which accused the company of deception. Mondelez cited rising costs as the reason for the weight adjustment, stating they had informed consumers online. Despite the company's explanation, German consumers previously voted the Milka bar "rip-off packaging of the year 2025."