Ritter Sport und Stiftung Warentest: Informationsdefizite überwinden

Andreas Hildenbrand and Rainer Kühl ()

Wirtschaftsdienst, 2014, vol. 94, issue 3, 217-220

Abstract: Stiftung Warentest is one of the most important consumer protection organisations in Germany, empowering consumers to protect themselves. For their Test Magazine’s December 2013 issue, they, inter alia, tested hazelnut chocolate. Ritter Sport’s hazelnut chocolate was given a failing grade. This grade was not given because of low quality but because of misleading labeling. Stiftung Warentest faulted Ritter Sport for having labeled an artificial flavouring as a natural one. Ritter Sport rejected the assertion, went to trial and won. The restraining order remains in force. We explain why Ritter Sport’s victory over Stiftung Warentest creates a lose-lose situation. The Test seal of quality was damaged. Therefore, information is lost. High quality producers and consumers with quality awareness are the victims of the information loss. The authors discuss possible solutions which could overcome the no-win situation. Copyright ZBW and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014

Keywords: D43; D82; L15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1007/s10273-014-1658-x

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