Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship
07/14/2015
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.
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Wickbold of bread lines have different weights, but equal prices in supermarkets. Photo: Thiago Freitas / Extra
In addition to the reductions in size or weight of the goods for sale in supermarkets, such as EXTRA been reporting since Sunday in the series of reports "Honey, I Shrunk the product," often the Brazilian consumer is faced with another surprise on the shelves: versions of a certain item with the same size packages but with lower amounts within.
The EXTRA identified this practice in three cases. In the line of breads "Being Light", the Wickbold, packages were found with three different weights: 400 grams for oatmeal bread package, 430 grams for the full version and 370 grams for the option with flaxseed. All, however, were on sale for the same price: R$ 5.19.
In another line of Wickbold, prices equal but different content. Photo: Rafaella Barros / Extra
Among the products Vanish stain removers, the situation is the same: while OxiAction and OxiAction Crystal White versions have 450 grams, O2 Power contains 420 grams. All are sold at R$ 14.90, with containers of the same size.
Vanish: packaging and equal prices, with different weights. Photo: Thiago Freitas
The case is repeated in another line of Wickbold, the Grand Taste: Some packages have 400 grams. Others, have 25% less: 300 grams.
There are situations where the new product was launched with lighter weight. But there are also versions in larger quantities, rendering the previous disadvantageous to the consumer because the price is the same. Therefore, in all cases, the consumer ends up paying more for less.
According to Ione Amorim, an economist at the Brazilian Institute of Consumer Defense (Idec), the entity accompanies this kind of behavior of manufacturers:
- There is also the case of the economic package, but more expensive refill.
In addition to the three cases cited, the EXTRA found also in three supermarket chains, items such as toothpaste, cat food and cereal with new versions and different weights, although the same package. But Carlos Eduardo Amorim, legal director of the State Procon, explains that being a different product, the practice is not illegal:
- Again, we recommend that people seek other brands.
Companies defend themselves
According to Reckitt Benckiser, maker of Vanish, the Power O2 bactericidal action version is on sale since 2011, while the OxiAction line was launched in May this year. The company admitted, through a statement that the price from factory to retail is the same in all three products because indenpendentemente quantities, because "the product formulation, with the added benefit of bactericidal action, has a higher cost of production" .
Regarding the fact that the packages have the same size, the company said it is an "identity mapping" of the product and that "the format is entirely appropriate to the production line of the brand."
The Wickbold reported that in the case of Living Light line, the flavor flax was launched in 2009, while the full and the oats went on sale in 1990 and 1994 respectively. 400 grams of the product of Grain Flavour line reached the market in 2012 and 2014, while the left 300 grams in 2004.
The company said the product characteristics determine the density, which directly affects the differentiation of weights. The Wickbold added that does not disclose information about prices.
THE FACTS
Supermarket
The three cases shown in the report were found in the World Ocean Garden, in Barra da Tijuca, in the West Zone of Rio. In a statement, the supermarket said that "only passes to the final consumer conditions values established by the supplier" and that many times the product, although similar, has "difference in manufacturing, such as using new technologies".
Search
For the series of reports on reduction products, the EXTRA also visited two other supermarket chains. All three products were found 55 in weight or small size, as shown in Sunday edition.
Legislation
In Brazil, there is no law that obliges the manufacturer launches a product of the same line, but with less content, to inform it on the packaging. This is only required if an existing product has the weight or small size. The notice has to be done for at least three months.
Source: Extra
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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.