Supermarkets in Hungary must indicate if food packaging shrinks
A new government measure will oblige food retailers with sales revenue of more than 1 billion forints (EUR 2.6m) to provide labelling that indicates shrinkflation, the economy ministry said on Monday.
In a statement, the ministry said the government was doing everything it could to protect families and was combatting consumer deception amid difficult economic circumstances.
In parallel with stagnant or rising prices of some produce, the size of packaging has been shrinking in many countries, the statement said, with consumers getting less for their money.
The benchmark for the reduction in weight or volume will be packaging of a given product between January 1, 2020 and July 1, 2023, and retailers must provide information for 2 months of the reduced size of the product, the ministry said.
Producers and suppliers in Hungary will have to inform retailers of any reductions to the size of packaging. The consumer protection authority will take action in the case of non-compliance.
Consumers can also access a public database on the national food chain safety authority’s (NÉBIH) website.
The measure is scheduled to be implemented in the first half of February, the statement said.
The ministry also said that whereas 2023 was the year in which inflation was tamed, steps were being taken to restart growth, and the target in 2024 was for the economy to grow by 4 percent. Measures aim to boost confidence and consumption, maintain an investment rate above 25 percent and further increase labour market activity, it added.
As we wrote on Monday, significant price rises are to come in the Hungarian hospitality industry, details HERE.
“You Rob Peter to give to Paul.”
Must happen, but in the lowering of quantity in products say from 200ml to 175ml – what those of us in millions HAVE seen, is the PRICE remains at the “elevated” – blame it on Inflation driven amount.
Break it ALL down – it’s not a win for consumers at ALL.
We are paying INFLATED increased costs for NEEDS of our Daily life, with less in the tin,jar or bottle exampled, and the winners are the Supermarket Chains, in particular.