1 ONE UNION - ONE QUALITY QUALITY RESEARCH OF SEEMINGLY IDENTICAL PRODUCTS IN MARKETS OF OLD AND NEW EU MEMBER STATES - RESULTS - Biljana Borzan Member of the European Parliament Zagreb, 1 September 2017
2 OVERALL RESULTS for 4 products (15%), no differences were found, both in quality and in price for 14 products (53.8%), a difference in quality was found, and for 9 out of the said 14 a difference was found, both in quality and in price for 5 food products there is a large (statistically significant) difference in quality for 8 food products there is a small difference in quality differences in the wording of the label or differences solely in sensory evaluation for 1 product from the category of cleaning agents, a significant variation in quality was found
3 OVERALL RESULTS 16 products (56.3%) had higher price on the Croatian than on the German market, 1 product had a higher price in the German market, while for 9 products there was no difference in price (deviations of up to/and 10% were treated as marginal difference, i.e. as if )
4 LARGE DIFFERENCES: WUDY CHICKEN-AND-TURKEY FRANKFURTER WITHOUT FOIL for the German market: 62% turkey meat and chicken fat Manufacturer: Agricola Italiana Alimentare (AIA) for the Croatian market: mechanically deboned turkey and chicken meet (94%) which, according to EU legislation is no included into the definition of meet and must not be advertised as such the manner of marking the product from the Croatian market (100% carni italiane, in translation 100% Italian meat) and the name of the product ( Frankfurters made of chicken and turkey meet ) mislead the consumers when it comes to the composition and components of the product the product on the Croatian market contains added polyphosphates (E450, E452) unlike the products from the German market, where the polyphosphates were not added sensory analysis determined differences in colour, taste and texture (the product form the German market is lighter, fattier and softer) manufacturer for Croatian and German markets: AIA S p. A S. Martino B.A.(VR) Italy the product is by 37% cheaper in Croatia
5 LARGE DIFFERENCES: HIPP BABY FOOD - BIO RICE AND CARROT WITH TURKEY German market: more vegetables - 38 % (carrot and potato), less rice 15 % Manufacturer: Hipp Croatian market: the only vegetables it contains are carrots 24% and a greater share of rice 21 % difference in colour, taste and aroma difference in the amount of rapeseed oil (source of omega3 fatty acid 1.9% for the German market and 1.7% for the Croatian market) products bear the same item code for both markets the spotted differences are especially significant since it is baby food manufacturer for Croatian and German markets: HIPP Germany the product is by 54% more expensive in Croatia
6 LARGE DIFFERENCES: NUTELLA, HAZELNUT AND CACAO CREAM PRODUCT Manufacturer: Ferrero the product from Croatia contains whey powder and a small percentage skimmed milk powder (6.6%), while the product from Germany contains only skimmed milk powder (7.5%) significant difference in spreadability of the product, confirmed by physical and chemical analyses (product bought in Croatia has higher pour point, which means it is more difficult to spread it at the same temperature) significant difference in colour, consistency, smell and taste of the product (the product bought in Croatia is sweeter, denser and has more of a cocoa flavour, while the product from Germany is darker, has hazelnut flavour and spreads more easily) manufacturer for the Croatian market: Ferrero, Poland manufacturer for the German market: FERRERO MMXVII, D-60624 FRANKFURT/MAIN the product is by 28% more expensive in Croatia
7 LARGE DIFFERENCES: DANONE ACTIVIA BIFIDUS ACTIREGULARIS STRAWBERRY FRUIT YOGHURT 7 significant difference in the list of ingredients (product bought in Germany has greater share of strawberries and no listed additives) product for the Croatian market contains more sugar, which is confirmed by chemical and sensory analysis manufacturer for Croatian and German markets: Danone GMBH D-81703, Munich the difference in price is marginal Manufacturer: Danone
8 LARGE DIFFERENCES: HARIBO HAPPY COLA, COLA FLAVOURED GUMMY CANDY Manufacturer: HARIBO large amount of the total sugar in products for the German market, proven both in sensory and chemical analysis the product bought in Germany has significantly greater amount of total sugar than the amount on the label, which is not in compliance with the Guiding document (EC) on tolerances for nutrient values declared on a labels manufacturer for the Croatian market: HARIBO Betriebsges, m.b.h., A-4020 Linz/Austria manufacturer for the German market: HARIBO D53129, BONN the product is 39% more expensive in Croatia
9 LARGE DIFFERENCES: ARIEL LAUNDRY DETERGENT POWDER significant difference regarding organoleptics, composition, volume ratio of the packaging, type of packaging, dosing, formulation ( compact ) Manufacturer: Procter & Gamble the product from the German market is significantly more efficient in washing at low temperatures (40ºC), while the difference is also present at 60ºC, but it is smaller for the same washing effect in Germany compact formulations prevail, where less powder is needed at low temperatures, unlike traditional washing in Croatia (using more powder and higher temperatures) manufacturer for the Croatian market: Procter & Gamble, Germany manufacturer for the German market: Procter & Gamble the product is 24% more expensive in Croatia
10 SMALL DIFFERENCES: COCA COLA, CARBONATED REFRESHING NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE the products differ according to type of sugar they contain Manufacturer: Coca Cola Company for the German market: sucrose for the Croatian market: high-fructose corn syrup manufacturer for the Croatian market: THE COCA COLA COMPANY Coca-Cola HBC Hrvatska d.o.o. Zagreb, Croatia manufacturer for the German market: THE COCA COLA COMPANY, Coca-Cola European Partners DE, Berlin the difference in price is marginal
11 SMALL DIFFERENCES: NESTEA ICE TEA PEACH, NON-CARBONATED REFRESHING NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE WITH TEA EXTRACT AND THE TASTE OF PEACH products differ according to ingredients listed on the label Manufacturer: Coca Cola Company for the Croatian market: fructose and sweetener (steviol glycoside) for the German market: sucrose consequence: energy value of the product from Croatia is smaller than the product from Germany manufacturer for the Croatian market: Beverage Partners Worldwide (Europe) AG, Coca-Cola HBC, Magyarorszag Kft., Hungary manufacturer for the German market: Beverage Partners Worldwide (Europe) AG, distributed by Coca-Cola, European Partners DE, Berlin the difference in price is marginal
12 SMALL DIFFERENCES: MILKA, MILK CHOCOLATE WITH ALPINE MILK AND WHOLE HAZELNUTS for the German market: one emulsifying agent (soya lecithin) for the Croatian market: two emulsifying agents (soya lecithin and E476, used in chocolate production as replacement for cacao) manufacturer for the Croatian market: Mondelez, Bulgaria manufacturer for the German market: Mondelez Deutschland D288078 Bremen the product is by 14% more expensive in Croatia Manufacturer: Mondelez 12
13 SMALL DIFFERENCES: EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL CLASSICO Manufacturer: Monini the product for the Croatian market has no nutritive declaration listed and is not in compliance with the EU Regulation on Food Consumer Information manufacturer for the Croatian market: Monini S.p.A.S.S.Flaminia Km129 - Spoleto Italy manufacturer for the German market: Monini S.p.A.S.S.Flaminia Km129 - Spoleto (Italy) the product is by 19% more expensive in Croatia
14 SMALL DIFFERENCES: NESQUIK, YA BREAKFAST CEREAL WITH THE TASTE OF CHOCOLATE, WITH ADDED VITAMINS AND MINERALS the list of ingredients on the label referring to cereals, especially the ingredient included in allergens, is not in compliance with the EU Regulation on Food Consumer Information manufacturer for the Croatian market: CEREAL PARTNERS FRANCE 02240 Itancourt, France manufacturer for the German market: the difference in price is marginal Manufacturer: Nestle
15 SMALL DIFFERENCES: PHILADELPHIA SPREADABLE CREAM CHEESE - EXTRA FAT German consumers are informed better, since the number of servings is marked on the label contained in the pre-package (mandatory pursuant to the EU Regulation on Food Consumer Information) and the percentage of the nutrients per serving as percentage of Recommended Dietary Allowance for an average adult manufacturer for the Croatian market: Mondelez Deutschland Production GmbH&Co. KG, Bremen, Germany manufacturer for the German market: Mondelez Deutschland Production GmbH&Co. KG, Bremen, Germany the product is by 47% more expensive in Croatia Manufacturer: Mondelez Production
16 SMALL DIFFERENCES: HEINEKEN LIGHT BEER, PASTEURISED Manufacturer: Heineken there are differences in taste and overall sensory evaluation of both products, which is confirmed by the chemical analysis results, but the differences are in compliance with tolerances, and we could say that it is consumer preference (the product from Croatia was evaluated as having a more bitter and fuller taste) manufacturer for the Croatian market: HEINEKEN HUNGARY Sorgyarak ZRT, H-9400 Sopron, Hungary manufacturer for the German market: Heineken Brouwerijen B.V.,Amsterdam, Holland Heineken Deutschland GmbH, 10245 Berlin the product is by 26% more expensive in Croatia
17 SMALL DIFFERENCES: COCA COLA ZERO, REFRESHING NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE WITH SWEETENERS 17 there is a significant difference in taste of the two analysed products we could say that it is consumer preference Manufacturer: Coca Cola Company manufacturer for the Croatian market: THE COCA COLA COMPANY manufactured by Coca-Cola HBC Hrvatska d.o.o. Zagreb, Croatia manufacturer for the German market: THE COCA COLA COMPANY, Coca-Cola European Partners DE, Berlin the difference in price is marginal
18 PRODUCTS WHERE DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY WAS NOT DETERMINED JACOBS CRONAT GOLD INSTANT COFFEE the product is by 29% more expensive in Croatia Manufacturer: Jacobs PEPSI COLA, CARBONATED REFRESHING NONALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE the product is by 36% more expensive in Croatia Manufacturer: Pepsi Co.
19 PRODUCTS WHERE DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY WAS NOT DETERMINED MONTE CHOCOLATE MILK DESSERT the product is by 36% more expensive in Croatia Manufacturer: Zott RIO MARE TUNA IN OLIVE OIL the product is by 46% more expensive in Croatia Manufacturer: Bolton Alimentari
20 PRODUCTS WHERE DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY WAS NOT DETERMINED PRINGLES ORIGINAL, SALTY SNACK the product is by 110% more expensive in Croatia Manufacturer: WMBPringles, UMA INVESTMENTS BREF POWER-GEL, TOTAL PROTECTION CLEANING AGENT the product is by 30% more expensive in Croatia Manufacturer: Henkel
21 PRODUCTS WHERE DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY WAS NOT DETERMINED NIVEA SHOWER GEL the product is by 56% more expensive in Croatia Manufacturer: Beiersdorf A.G. COLGATE TOOTHPASTE the product is by 79% more expensive in Croatia Manufacturer: Colgate-Palmolive
22 PRODUCTS WHERE DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY WAS NOT DETERMINED HAPPY DAY 100% ORANGE JUICE, MILD TASTE, FROM JUICE CONCENTRATE WITH CALCIUM the difference in price is marginal Manufacturer: Rauch RED BULL, ENERY DRINK the difference in price is marginal Manufacturer: Red Bull
23 PRODUCTS WHERE DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY WAS NOT DETERMINED BARILLA SPAGHETTI n.5, DRY PASTA FROM DURUM WHEAT SEMOLINA the difference in price is marginal Manufacturer: Barilla LENOR FABRIC SOFTENER the difference in price is marginal Manufacturer: Procter&Gamble
24 RAMA SPREAD Manufacturer: Unilever Rama with 70% fat, sampled from the German market, belongs to the category of Fatty Spreads, while Rama from the Croatian market with 60% fat is included into the category of Three-quarter fat margarine (Regulation (EU) No. 1308/2013) as the observes products belong to different categories of food products, we treated them as non-comparable and left them out of the total number of tested products The first two product on the left picture (square shaped packaging) are products present on the Croatian market, while the third one (round shaped packaging) is a product from the German market
25 COMPARISON OF THE RESULTS, PRICES AND QUALITY PRODUCT JACOBS CRONAT GOLD PEPSI COLA COCA COLA COCA COLA ZERO HAPPY DAY 100% ORANGE NESTEA ICE TEA PEACH HEINEKEN BEER RED BULL MILKA CHOCOLATE WHOLE HAZELNUTS NUTELLA HARIBO HAPPY COLA ORIGINAL GUMMY CANDY PHILADELPHIA ORIGINAL ACTIVI FRUIT YOGHURT STRAWBERRY MONTE MILK DESSERT RIO MARE TUNA IN OLIVE OIL EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL CLASSIC BARILLA SPAGHETTI N.5 PRINGLES ORIGINAL WUDY FRANKFURTERS HIPP RICE AND CARROT WITH TURKEY NESQUICK CEREAL ARIEL VOLLWASCHMITTEL LENOR SUMMER BREEZE 4X LONGER FRESHNESS BREF POWER-GEL 6X EFFECT WC, TOTAL PROTECTION NIVEA SHOWER GEL COLGATE FLUORIDE TOOTHPASTE SENSATION WHITE DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY DIFFERENCE IN PRICE