In 2022, many bakeries were not so precise with the bread weight

In 2022, 11.3 percent of entrepreneurs sold bread that was too light. In addition, a number of bakeries and confectioneries as well as affiliated tearooms were not so precise with the price information.

The Federal Institute of Metrology (Metas) and the Secretariat of State for Economic Affairs (Seco) scrutinized bakeries, confectioneries, tearooms and gas stations in their audit campaign last year, they announced on Tuesday.

The weights of the loaves were checked by the control officials in the cantons and in Liechtenstein. According to the leading Metas, 9,000 loaves of bread were weighed at 439 bakeries and petrol station shops.

Bread was too light in 14.4 percent of artisan bakeries, 10.4 percent in industrial companies and 5.7 percent in petrol station shops. The number of incorrect devices remained the same as when the audit was carried out ten years ago. The cantonal authorities are now keeping a closer eye on the affected companies.

The Seco had the price addresses of bakers, confectioners and affiliated tearooms checked. 22 cantons controlled 1214 shops. They found incomplete or incorrect price information in 16 percent of the bakeries with tearooms. Four percent provide no information at all.

In the shops, 36 percent of the checked bakeries and confectioneries had incorrect price indications and one percent missed them. In the shop windows, 22 percent of companies wrote that the prices were not adequate. Seven percent exhibited their products without a price.

The cantons attributed the shortcomings mainly to a lack of knowledge about the Price Disclosure Regulation. Criminal prosecution followed in six cases, usually because the companies did not comply with the regulations despite the discovery of defects, instructions and a deadline. (saw/sda)