Poland's Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, UOKiK, has undertaken a study of the quality of products in the country compared to other European markets, and found some discrepancies between what Polish and European consumers are purchasing.
In total, UOKiK checked the quality of 101 products, and found that 'significant differences' in quality or ingredient composition were present in 12 of them.
The study was carried out in two stages; at the end of 2017, UOKiK purchased comparative products in Poland and Germany, while in the second quarter of 2018, it purchased products that boasted Polish labels, and the same products boasting labels from other markets.
Product Composition
In both studies, differences were observed between the two sets of products.
In the first study, Crunchips paprika chips, produced by Lorenz, were found to have been cooked in palm oil in Poland, and contained a higher fat content, as well as flavour enhancers. In Germany, the same product was cooked in sunflower oil, and no flavour enhancers were added.
Another example cited was Lipton Peach Ice Tea, which in Poland contained sugar, fructose and sweetener, while in the German market contained only sugar. Elsewhere, Milka chocolate products containing nuts in Poland were found to have fewer nuts than those sold in Germany.
In the second study, Knorr Spaghetti Bolognese was found to have more fat and sugar in Poland, while Philadelphia Cheese was made with different ingredients, and also presented in smaller packaging, 125g in Poland compared to 175g in Europe.
While UOKiK said that the sample is 'too small to refer to the entire market', it said that it was carrying out the study in order to ensure a level playing field for consumers in different markets.
"There should be no differences in the treatment of consumers in the European Union," commented Marek Niechciał, UOKiK president.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
