Regional – A recent survey by the Consumers’ Association has shown that food manufacturers are cutting back on the amount of expensive ingredients in their products, while sales prices remain the same or even increase.
The study, which examined more than 600 supermarket products and compared them with their composition up to five years ago, showed that the recipe had been adjusted for more than a quarter of the products. In some cases there were only minor changes, but in other products the changes were significant.
Major changes to popular products
For example, the fish content in Albert Heijn’s gourmet treats has fallen from 75% to 55%. Bertolli liquid has reduced the proportion of olive oil from 20% to just 7%, and Plus forest fruit syrup now contains 6% forest fruit instead of the previous 19%. It is striking that 60% of the adjustments took place in private label products.
Comments from manufacturers
Manufacturers attribute the adjustments mainly to the increased prices of raw materials. Supermarket Plus claims that their forest fruit lemonade still has the same taste thanks to the use of aromas. Albert Heijn even claims that their gourmets have been improved by a thicker crispy layer, and that their whipped ice cream is now better with 23% whipped cream instead of the previous 32%. Bertolli’s argument follows a similar line.
View 24 examples of the Consumers’ Association’s Fair reporting center on the website below.
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Tags: Cutback inflation Manufacturers cut ingredients prices remain
