There are some taste differences in certain food brands between Eastern and Western European countries, but not in quality. A follow-up investigation by the European Commission concludes that there are occasionally deviations in recipes, but these are not related to geographic sales areas.
With this research and its findings, the EU responds to recurring complaints, mainly from Eastern European EU countries, that certain brands sell cheaper and inferior variants in their stores compared to Western European countries. Earlier research involving twenty branded products had already shown that half of the cases exhibited taste differences and recipe deviations.
As part of the study, researchers examined twenty packaged food products. In half of the cases, taste differences could be perceived during consumption and were attributed to variations in composition, the researchers acknowledge. However, there is no discrimination concerning food quality.
Former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker emphasized four years ago that he could not accept that food of lesser quality would be sold in some parts of Europe—in the same packaging and with the same marketing—as compared to other regions.
Food producers argued that there are sometimes differences in recipes to meet local tastes and demand. However, there is no evidence to support a possible East-West difference as was previously suggested.