The same but different - is food in Baltic region different from what consumers eat in Western Europe?

ended

Due to a large gap in financing of consumer organizations (COs) in Baltic region when compared to other EU countries, consumers have no access to independent comparative tests of products and they are susceptible to misleading branding strategies, including dual quality. This pilot project will strengthen COs, enable them to run food tests and strengthen consumers by providing them with trustworthy information. Coffee and tea in Baltic markets will be tested and compared to the German market. Misleading branding strategies and dual quality of products will be identified, national authorities will be notified, the results will be available to consumers empowering them to make choices based on reliable information. Work packages include: 1.Project management and coordination – it will achieve successful execution of all activities 2.Setting up a network of COs in Baltic region – aiming at exchanging best practices and facilitating cross-border cooperation 3.Development and implementation of food testing – it will enable application of sound methods for testing and comparing products based on EU harmonised testing methodology, in particular in relation to dual quality 4.Development of an IT tool to report on dual quality and misleading branding 5.Awareness raising and advocacy – it will disseminate results among relevant stakeholders and the public at large The project will strengthen COs by enabling them to conduct food testing, identify misleading branding strategies, including dual quality, and to report on them. A Simple IT tool for sharing knowledge with consumers and identifying unfair practices will be developed and tested and recommendations for its future development will be provided. Network of Baltic COs will be setup in order to facilitate future collaboration. Consumers will gain access to reliable product information. Promotion and advocacy will impact consumer awareness, market behaviour, existing and future consumer policy.