Only 90 grams instead of 100 grams of chocolate in the same package size, this reduction in the fill quantity of Milka bars misleads consumers, according to a court ruling. The Bremen Regional Court declared the reduction in fill quantity to be a "relative shrinkflation scam" and ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by the Hamburg Consumer Protection Center against manufacturer Mondelez. Consumer advocates are now hoping for a "signal effect" from the ruling. (Case No. 12 O 118/25)
The background is that Mondelez made Milka bars thinner at the beginning of 2025, and simultaneously more expensive, as the price rose from 1.49 euros to 1.99 euros. The Hamburg Consumer Protection Center filed a lawsuit alleging deception. In fact, many consumers felt deceived in recent months: the Consumer Protection Center received hundreds of complaints, and with a large majority, Milka chocolate was voted the "shrinkflation scam" of the year 2025 at the beginning of this year.
The Bremen Regional Court has now also concluded that there is deception in the discrepancy between the actual content and the "optically conveyed expectation for a product known to consumers for years." Due to the essentially unchanged packaging of the product, consumers would assume "that they are still purchasing the 100g of chocolate they are familiar with," the court explained on Wednesday.
To eliminate this deception, "a notice on the packaging would have been necessary," the court stated. This notice must be "clearly, understandably, and noticeably designed" and "have a real chance of being perceived in the practical purchasing situation."
However, how the manufacturer actually implements such notices is ultimately up to them, the court further stated. According to the chamber's ruling, a clear notice must exist "for at least a period of four months after the reduction of the fill quantity" so that consumers can "sufficiently internalize" this.
The ruling is not yet legally binding; Mondelez can file an appeal within one month. On Wednesday, the company stated it would examine the court's reasoning in detail. "Regardless of this, we will continue to work on making our communication clear."
Mondelez defended the weight reduction of Milka chocolate: "We make no compromises on ingredients and production of our products. As a consequence, we decided last year to adjust the weight of some of our Milka bars."
The Hamburg Consumer Protection Center declared on Wednesday that it was pleased with the ruling: "It strengthens the rights of consumers in cases of hidden price increases," explained Armin Valet from the Consumer Protection Center. "Many people reach for Milka bars and don't notice that they only get 90 instead of 100 grams of chocolate for their money."
From the perspective of consumer advocates, the ruling has "signal effect," Valet further explained: "Now the legislature is called upon to finally create further binding regulations against shrinkflation scams," he demanded.
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