Coca-Cola, watch out - the Croatians are on to you. Many believe that big brands, such as Coca-Cola, have long been sending inferior products to Eastern European countries, compared with those destined for Western Europe. Now, that theory is being put to the test.
Earlier this week, reports poslovni.hr, Croatia's European Parliament Member Biljana Borzan teamed up with Director of the Croatian Food Agency Andrea Gross-Bošković to present a survey. The results suggested that a staggering 82.6% of Croatians think that products destined for their shops don't match up to those found in German, French, or British supermarket aisles.
To clear things up once and for all, a selection of products will be tested against identical counterparts found in German supermarkets,
Sweets brands leaving a sour taste in the mouth include Milka chocolate, Nutella and Coca-Cola. Ariel detergent, Gillette razors and Colgate toothpaste are also raising suspicions. But for the complainants, it's not just a matter of quality: according to Borzan, over 70% of participants believed that large corporations see Croatians as second-class citizens.
So, are big brands really sending crap to Croatia? Or is it all a conspiracy theory?
Here's the full list of brands set to go under the microscope:
Jacobs Cronat Gold coffee, Pepsi Cola, Coca Cola, Bravo orange juice, Nestea ice tea, Heineken beer, Red Bull
Milka cholocate with hazelnuts, Nutella spread, Haribo sweets
Philadelphia spread, Activia fruit yoghurt, Monte milk dessert
Rio Mare tuna in olive oil, Iglo fish fingers
Monino olive oil, Raman spread
Barilla spagetti
Pringles
Wudy frankfurters
Hipp – turkey with rice and carrots
Nesquick chocolate
Ariel detergent, Silan softner
Nivea shower gel, Colgate toothpaste