Croatia to Test if Big Brands are Sending Inferior Products

Croatia to test quality of products

A popular belief in Croatia that major brands are supplying the market with lower quality versions than in richer western countries is about to be put to the test.

It is the belief of many that a number of products imported into Croatia, such as Milka chocolate, Nutella, Gillette shavers, Coca-Cola, Colgate toothpaste and Ariel detergent, have been of a lower standard than what is on the shelves in other western European countries.

On Monday in Zagreb Croatia’s European Parliament Member Biljana Borzan, and Director of the Croatian Food Agency Andrea Gross-Bošković, presented results of surveys recently conducted which shows that most citizens believe that products intended for the Croatian market are of an inferior quality, poslovni.hr reported.

“82.6% of Croatian citizens believe that products intented for eastern Europen markets are of an inferior quality to what is intented for shops and supermarkets in western EU member countries”, Borzan said, adding that over 70% believed that in the eyes of large corporations Croatians were seen as second-class citizens.

The survey also revealed that 91% of Croatians prefer to buy local Croatian made products.

Debate has been long raging about the quality of Nutella in different countries (photo credit: Facebook)

As a result a project is to be launched which will see certain products tested. Laboratory testing will take place to compare identical products found on shelves in Croatia and Germany.

27 products will be tested throughout the project. If the products are found to be of inferior quality then Borzan hopes that it can lead to a law change.

“If we are one Union and we have a common market then there is no excuse for the products to be different”, she added.

Products to be tested:

Drinks
Jacobs Cronat Gold coffee, Pepsi Cola, Coca Cola, Bravo orange juice, Nestea ice tea, Heineken beer, Red Bull

Confectionary
Milka cholocate with hazelnuts, Nutella spread, Haribo sweets

Dairy
Philadelphia spread, Activia fruit yoghurt, Monte milk dessert

Fish
Rio Mare tuna in olive oil, Iglo fish fingers

Oil
Monino olive oil, Raman spread

Pasta
Barilla spagetti

Chips
Pringles

Meat
Wudy frankfurters

Baby food
Hipp – turkey with rice and carrots

Cereal
Nesquick chocolate

Cleaning products
Ariel detergent, Silan softner

Hygiene products
Nivea shower gel, Colgate toothpaste