Without Notice... Consumer Complaints Grow Over Repeated 'Tricks' in Food and Beverage

Despite Stable Prices, 'Shrinkflation' Prevails
"No Regulation Methods... Must Compare Carefully Before Purchase"

Some companies have been quietly reducing product quantities without separate notices or clear labeling when raising prices, a practice known as 'shrinkflation,' which is causing growing dissatisfaction among consumers.

According to the food and beverage industry on the 12th, Twosome Place raised the prices of 10 beverages other than coffee sold in stores by 300 to 500 won each starting from the 25th of last month.

The item with the largest price increase was the 'Mango Frappe,' with the regular size rising from 5,500 won to 6,000 won, a 9.1% increase. Additionally, Orange Grapefruit Juice increased from 6,000 won to 6,300 won, and Orange Grapefruit Ade rose from 5,500 won to 5,800 won.

Twosome Place did not issue a separate public notice when implementing this price increase. They also did not post an official price increase announcement on their website bulletin board. Instead, they stated that they displayed a prior price increase notice in the form of a 'popup message' on their website from one week before the start date of the increase until the day of the increase.

However, this message may be difficult for consumers who block internet pop-ups in advance due to concerns such as virus intrusion to see. Moreover, since beverage consumption is high during the summer, Twosome Place's recent price increase inevitably places a greater burden on consumers.

A Twosome Place representative said, "Due to rising labor and transportation costs as well as overall store operating expenses, we raised the prices of some beverages such as Orange Grapefruit Juice, Grapefruit Ade, and Orange Ade," adding, "We will continue to do our best to provide consumers with the highest quality products and the best service."

Haribo, the leading company in the domestic gummy candy market, reduced the weight of some of its products sold at convenience stores from 100g to 80g, a 20% decrease, last month. Haribo had maintained product prices since raising them by an average of 11.1% in 2021, but this year, faced with rising raw material costs and government pressure to lower prices, they ultimately chose to reduce product quantities.

Haitai Confectionery began selling 'Gohyang Dumplings' with up to a 16% weight reduction starting from the 11th of last month, and in April this year, OB Beer adjusted the volume of canned beer from the previous 375ml to 370ml while maintaining the same price per can.

An industry insider who requested anonymity said, "With the government recommending price reductions, it is difficult for the food industry to declare price increases hastily," adding, "Instead, more companies are likely to take detours such as reducing quantities or switching to cheaper ingredients."

Under current law, reducing product quantity without notice is not problematic as long as the packaging labeling matches the actual content.

However, consumer groups and experts point out that shrinkflation is merely a 'deception' to reduce consumer resistance to food price increases.

A representative from the Consumer Sovereignty Citizens' Council said, "Consumers find it difficult to notice changes unless they carefully check the product quantity because the price remains the same," and added, "Food companies should choose to provide prior notice, and the government should urgently step in to review and correct this instead of turning a blind eye."

Professor Eunhee Lee of Inha University's Department of Consumer Studies said, "From the companies' perspective, changing the product weight effectively results in a price increase, but from the consumers' perspective, it is natural to feel deceived," advising, "Currently, there is no separate regulation or sanction to control or penalize quantity reductions without notice, so consumers must carefully check and compare products when purchasing."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.