Food and drink products vary significantly across EU countries due to “dual quality,” despite regulations.
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Food and beverage products from major brands often differ across European Union countries despite appearing identical to consumers. This phenomenon, known as “dual quality,” was highlighted by consumer associations and political figures who noted variations in ingredients like oil types, sweeteners, and sugar content between member states. Despite assurances from the European Commission that this would change, recent investigations confirm significant differences persist in products such as Fanta and Doritos across various EU nations regarding their composition and nutritional values. For example, some countries use sucrose while others utilize high-fructose corn syrup, and ingredient quantities vary widely. While companies claim adherence to local regulations, consumer groups argue that these variations are misleading. Although the European Commission has introduced directives to combat deceptive marketing, the real equality for consumers remains elusive as legal loopholes allow for regional differences in ingredients. Furthermore, discussions around sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose raise health concerns, prompting calls from consumer advocates for clearer front-of-pack labeling systems, such as traffic light warnings.
