The OCU accuses Pastas Gallo, Danone, Pescanova, Colacao, Tulipán and Campofrío of reduflation

The consumer organization (OCU) has denounced Pastas Gallo, Danone, Pescanova, Colacao, Tulipán and Campofrío before the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) for reduflation, a practice that consists of giving less quantity while charging the same , without ruling out expanding his complaint to more products and companies.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
24 June 2022 Friday 15:13
9 Reads
The OCU accuses Pastas Gallo, Danone, Pescanova, Colacao, Tulipán and Campofrío of reduflation

The consumer organization (OCU) has denounced Pastas Gallo, Danone, Pescanova, Colacao, Tulipán and Campofrío before the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) for reduflation, a practice that consists of giving less quantity while charging the same , without ruling out expanding his complaint to more products and companies.

Specifically, OCU has filed this complaint so that the CNMC determines whether the reduflation, which it has detected in these six companies, is a practice that could unfairly alter competition, due to the lack of transparency for consumers.

In addition to the complaint to the body chaired by Cani Fernández, the consumer organization will inform the Ministry of Consumer Affairs to study the implementation of measures that force manufacturers to improve the information they give consumers about the price and quantity of their products. .

OCU, regardless of the legality of the reduflation, has criticized these "opaque" practices, since "in most cases it is imperceptible to consumers", so it is necessary to warn consumers of these "disguised" increases .

The organization has denounced that the increase in the prices of energy and raw materials has caused a "significant" rise in the prices of different goods and services. Specifically, the annual rise in the cost of food is estimated at 9.4%.

In this context, he warned that, in the food sector, some large manufacturers, in order to avoid the penalty of price increases, have opted for the reduction strategy.

According to a study, the OCU has found that at least 7% of the products in your shopping cart have been affected by this practice.

Although in principle, from the point of view of the information on the packaging and labeling of the products, the regulations are complied with, OCU considers that in reality it can be considered an unfair competition practice, since "there is no clear information for the consumer on the rise in prices and that lack of transparency alters competition".

"The consumer does not have complete information about the true nature and characteristics of the product, leading him to make erroneous decisions that can affect manufacturers who clearly raise the price, and who can be penalized against those who mask increases with reductions. in the amount of product", has pointed out the consumer organization.

For its part, Danone has rejected the accusations of the consumer organization and has assured that it has not carried out any reduction policy in its products to alleviate the impacts of inflation.

"Danone has always implemented a policy of proactivity and transparency with the OCU, facilitating our collaboration in terms of reformulation, packaging and collaborative governance," company sources have told Europa Press.