Aldi shoppers fume after discovering what 'e' symbol on products really means

Aldi customers have been left bewildered after discovering what the 'e' next to the weight on their food products actually means, fearing they have been overcharged.

The tiny 'e' symbol is on packaging of some items and when one woman decided to delve deeper into its meaning, she was shocked to find it signals that she might be charged more for less. The disgruntled customer aired her grievances on Facebook showing that her 230g packet of crisps from Aldi only contained 139g of crisps.

Frustrated, she questioned, "How is this okay at all? [We] try to save money by buying from Aldi, but we don't even get the amount on the packet! "

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Further investigation revealed that, "More than two-thirds of the packet was air - hence why I decided to check it... I put the whole bag with chips in it on the scales first and it was 157g," she shared.

Her dismay grew as she found that when weighed, the crisps were considerably less than advertised, triggering an onslaught of outrage from other Facebook users. It was subsequently stated by someone that the elusive 'e' symbol denotes that the given volume or weight is simply an "average value".

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources authority stipulates that such disparity should not occur under the Average Quantity System (AQS). Their official website proclaims: "The AQS is an internationally agreed method of determining the size or quantity of pre-packed articles with a 'constant nominal content'."

It explains, "This means it provides confirmation of the measurement or quantity of goods in the package, being sold by measure (weight, volume, length, area or number).", reports the Express.

It clarifies by stating that "no pre-packaged article can have a shortfall greater than five percent of the stated quantity."

Despite this, customers voiced their dissatisfaction online. One Facebook user remarked: "That isn't an estimation, though. Even mince has the 'e' and usually it's minimal difference - but nearly 100g is massive! " Another unhappy customer indicated: "Not getting what you pay for is a joke and being so far off the 'e' weight is just ridiculous."

Regulations from the EU state that packaged goods sold in any EU country must feature clear information on the packaging about the nominal quantity (weight or volume) of their contents, as highlighted on the official European Union website.

They further explain that the 'e' mark "placed next to the nominal quantity, shows that you have complied with the relevant European laws".

The Examiner's sister publication The Express has reached out to Aldi for their response on this matter.

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