UOKiK investigates Danone, Mondelez, Nestlé, and Unilever over shrinkflation

The Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has launched explanatory proceedings against four major manufacturers: Danone, Mondelez, Nestlé, and Unilever. The investigation focuses on 'shrinkflation' or downsizing, where companies reduce the weight or volume of products while maintaining the same price.

UOKiK President Tomasz Chróstny stated that while reducing product size is not illegal, it becomes problematic if the packaging design and graphics do not clearly signal the change to consumers. This practice can mislead customers who rely on familiar packaging, effectively resulting in a price increase that makes it difficult to compare costs. The regulator is examining whether these companies are informing consumers adequately or if their presentation methods are deceptive.

The investigation follows a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union, which suggests that even if the new weight is correctly labeled, the overall practice may still be considered misleading. Similar regulatory actions and court rulings regarding downsizing have already occurred in countries such as France, Hungary, Austria, and Germany.