Court halts Aldi's pistachio chocolate over false label claims
The court in Cologne has prohibited the sale of pistachio chocolate in the German Aldi chain. This product, described as a "TikTok hit", was discovered to originate from Turkey rather than Dubai, as its label claimed. The court's ruling is due to the falsification of the country of origin.
The court in Cologne banned the sale of pistachio chocolate in Aldi stores. Thanks to TikTok, the product became hugely popular. However, the product, marketed as Alyan Dubai Handmade Chocolate, is made in Turkey, which misleads consumers.
The court's decision followed a complaint from Andreas Wilmers, an entrepreneur who imports authentic Dubai chocolate. Wilmers highlighted that the incorrect country of origin negatively affects his business. The court determined that the label wrongly suggests the chocolate comes from Dubai.
Aldi Süd, the German retail chain, has been held responsible for legal expenses and intends to appeal the decision. However, until the appeal is settled, breaching the sales ban could result in a fine. Andreas Wilmers is planning further legal actions against other networks selling similar products.
