If we find all kinds of scams throughout the year in supermarkets, the Christmas holidays concentrate a lot of them. This is what the Foodwatch France association points out, which is publishing for the second year in a row its ranking of the worst scams on Christmas labels. 2023 is no exception to the rule, with no less than six products pinned. Among them, a smoked salmon from the Labeyrie brand, whose “weight has decreased by 10g”, while “its price has increased by 19%” or even a “special foie gras” limited edition gingerbread from the Brossard brand , which contains “a lot of sugar (glucose-fructose syrup, sugar, caramelized sugar syrup) without a drop of honey”, deplores the NGO.
Another product highlighted: the Guyader terrine with Breton-style scallops, made from… “hake and shellfish caught on the other side of the world”. “What you might mistake for scallops are actually scallops or combs, cheaper shellfish from the same family bought in bulk,” explains Foodwatch. Same observation for the Bjorg cooking lemon “stamped with the organic label despite its plastic packaging” which offers “70% water and only 30% lemon” but also the Ciro panettone which “hides palm oil” or even eggs in Ferrero Rocher chocolate, of which “the bag is 52% empty”.
Contacted by Le Parisien, the main groups all held the same defense, first explaining that their practices were entirely legal, the distributors being “free to set their prices” according to the Limagrain group which owns the Brossard brand, and assuring then be themselves victims of inflation, to the extent that the price of raw materials had particularly increased in recent months. This is the case of Labeyrie, which justifies its choice to reduce the quantity of salmon, “in order to control the impact of rising costs and allow distributors to offer it to consumers at an affordable price”.
In a humorous tone, which does not hide Foodwatch’s real concerns for consumers who are quick to be fooled, the NGO invites the general public to vote for the “worst scam” of Christmas. “Second edition of the Casserole d’Or, the least popular election in the food industry. Discover the 6 nominees and vote for the worst holiday etiquette scam,” launches the association on its website. To participate, you must vote before December 20 at 11 p.m.
Last year, in a context of high inflation, Foodwatch France had already highlighted a certain number of products, particularly those affected by shrinkflation. A marketing practice aimed at reducing the quantity of a product in similar packaging, while keeping the price the same, or even increasing it. It was the Signature Grand chocolat log from Nestlé, “composed of 80% vacuum and sold at 17.48 euros per kilo at Auchan”, or even slices of smoked salmon with dill “which reach 60% vacuum , at 58.40 euros per kilo.