An analysis of the quality of 26 identical products available in the Croatian and German markets showed that more than half of the products in the Croatian market are of lower quality, but also significantly more expensive than in the German market, stated Croatian MEP Biljana Borzan on Friday.
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The research, conducted in collaboration with the Croatian Food Agency in several accredited laboratories in Croatia, found that only four out of 26 tested products (15 percent) showed no difference in quality or price. A difference in quality was found in 54 percent of the products, while more than 60 percent of the products were more expensive in the Croatian market at the time of purchase.
In the Same Factory, Two Production Chains
The largest differences were observed in five food products and one detergent. Some of them were produced in the same factory, indicating that there are two production chains, said Borzan.
Thus, Wudy hot dogs made from chicken and turkey meat in the Croatian market, contrary to the name, are made from so-called deboned meat, which according to EU regulations cannot be labeled as meat, while the German product is made from real turkey and chicken meat.
Additionally, the product from the Croatian market contains the additive polyphosphate, and sensory analyses revealed differences in color, taste, and texture as the product in Germany is lighter, fattier, and softer. The price of hot dogs is 37 percent lower in Croatia.
Despite all the differences, products in both markets are listed under the same item code, and in Croatia, they are 54 percent more expensive than in Germany.
In Hipp’s baby food – organic rice and carrot with turkey, it was found that the Croatian market product contains a significantly lower proportion of vegetables and a higher proportion of rice than the German product. The puree on the Croatian market does not contain potatoes, only carrots and rice, and has less rapeseed oil, which is a source of omega-3 fatty acids, important for children’s development.
Nutella in Croatia Contains Whey
A significant difference was also found in Nutella, where the product in Croatia contains whey as a cheaper raw material and a lower percentage of skimmed milk, while in Germany it contains only skimmed milk.
There are also differences in spreadability, which is poorer in the Croatian product, which is lighter and instead of hazelnut flavor has cocoa flavor. In Croatia, the product is 28 percent more expensive. In strawberry Activia yogurt, it was found that in Croatia there is more sugar and a lower proportion of strawberries.
A significant difference also exists in Ariel laundry detergent. The German product, unlike the Croatian one, has the label “compact” and significantly greater washing efficiency at lower temperatures (40 degrees Celsius), while at 60 degrees Celsius the difference also exists, but is smaller. Despite this, the detergent for the German market is about 25 percent cheaper than that on the Croatian market.
The study showed that there are small differences in Heineken beer and Coca-Cola, despite different manufacturers in the Croatian and German markets, and they differ in taste, which is attributed to differences in consumer preferences.
Four products stood out as positive, meaning they are of the same quality and the same prices – Happy Day 100 percent orange juice, Red Bull, Barilla spaghetti, and Lenor fabric softener. There are also some other products of the same quality, but much more expensive in Croatia, such as Pringles original salty chips, which are 110 percent more expensive compared to Germany, Colgate toothpaste, which is 79 percent more expensive, or Rio Mare tuna in olive oil, which is 46 percent higher in price than in Germany.
Candies Are Better Here Than in Germany
One product was found to be better here than in the German market – namely, Haribo Happy Cola candies in Germany have more sugar than the declared value, but they are 39 percent more expensive here.
“Croatian citizens are in an unfavorable position, as are most citizens of newer EU member states, which are mostly Eastern European countries. It is clear that the problem exists everywhere and that national governments cannot adequately address it. Therefore, it is important to bring this issue to the European level,” said Borzan, adding that despite EU agreements that guarantee this, not all European citizens are treated equally.
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“When we have such a type of inequality, we need to correct it. I am saddened when someone trivializes this issue as if it matters to us whether a spread has more or fewer hazelnuts. It is not about that, but about a political issue of equality for all citizens, which does not currently exist. Therefore, we must change the laws to correct this,” she stated.
The goal, she says, is to change the law to characterize this as an unfair trading practice and to equalize citizens in a unified European market, instead of having first and second-class citizens.
Pepsi Cola Changed Its Business Policy
She adds that some companies, like Pepsi Cola, when they saw the results of the research conducted in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, changed their business policy and launched identical products throughout the EU because they realized that they do not need such a negative campaign.
“I would like other companies to follow this example, and those who do not want to – we will change the laws and force them,” said Borzan.
She added that this problem in the Croatian market has existed for decades, so it is not to be expected that it will be resolved overnight, but she believes that it is a success that this issue has been imposed as a problem in the European Parliament and Council, where a discussion is scheduled for September 27 in the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection.
