Three brands of instant noodles reduce weight by 5 grams and are accused of price increase
Involving Master Kang, Tongyi, and Fuman duo: net content reduced but price unchanged, lawyer questions this as a disguised price increase
The net content of the noodle cake is 85 grams. After 2007, Master Kang, Tongyi, and Fuman duo instant noodles have once again become "slimmer." The net content of some varieties has fallen below the 90-gram mark, while the price remains unchanged.
The net content of the noodle cake has been reduced by 5 grams.
"Wow, it's lighter? I didn't know." A salesperson in the instant noodle section of Carrefour supermarket looked carefully at Master Kang's pickled cabbage beef instant noodles. The net content of this pack of instant noodles is labeled as 85 grams. However, in September, the net content was 90 grams.
The reporter confirmed this situation from another supermarket, which was still selling Master Kang's pickled cabbage beef instant noodles with a net weight of 90 grams. The production date was from May of this year.
Not only that, the reporter then visited supermarkets such as Wumart, Jusco, and Walmart, discovering that some varieties of Tongyi and Fuman duo brand instant noodles also had reduced net content, with an average reduction of about 5 grams. Most of the reduced products went from the original 95 grams to 90 grams, and there were also a few instant noodles that went from the original 90 grams to 85 grams.
It is understood that the last large-scale "slimming down" of instant noodles was in 2007. Some bowl-packed or cup-packed instant noodles from Master Kang and Tongyi brands saw their net content reduced by about 5%.
Retail prices remain unchanged, and weight reduction is suspected as a disguised price increase.
The reporter then interviewed relevant responsible persons at Carrefour. They stated they were not aware of the situation regarding the adjustment of the net content of some instant noodles. However, it is certain that no price adjustment notices from instant noodle companies have been received since the beginning of this year.
The reporter then contacted the sales departments of Tongyi and Master Kang. They said that indeed, in some regions of the country, the net content of some varieties had been adjusted, but the price remained unchanged. Both companies said that the reduction in grams was due to the pressure of rising costs, and this was a measure thought up to allow consumers to spend less money.
As for the specific regions and varieties involved, by the time the reporter finished writing this article, Master Kang's relevant responsible person's phone could not be connected.
Tongyi only stated that the net content of a few varieties of noodle cakes had been reduced by 5 grams.
Regarding the practice of reducing grams without adjusting prices, Lawyer Qiubao Chang, a consultant lawyer for the China Consumers Association legal team, said this is a disguised price increase. The manufacturers are taking advantage of consumers' focus on price and relatively neglecting product information. "Although it is not illegal, it actually skirts the edge of the law," said Qiubao Chang.
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Team Awareness