Downsizing / Shrinkflation

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Here We Shrink Again – Year-End 2024

December 23, 2024 by Edgar (aka MrConsumer)

The next new Mouse Print story: January 6th.*

As we wrap up 2024, it is time to take a last look at some products that suffered the effects of shrinkflation. Here are some more products that have been recently downsized.

Chex Mix

Snack foods are one of the common categories of groceries to shrink. And Chex is no exception. Their family size bags which used to be 15 ounces have gone down to 13.5 ounces.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Chex Mix Chex Mix Bold

Secret Deodorant

Solid deodorant packages tend to be deceptive. The dispenser appears to be pretty tall, but if you look carefully at the one on the right below, you will see that the fairly thick platform that raises the stick deodorant starts halfway up the package. There is no content in the bottom half.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Secret Deodorant

And to add insult to injury, the new tubes went from 2.6 ounces to 2.37 ounces. Thanks to Nora F. for this submission.

Q-Tips

Warehouse club packs of Q-Tips have been shrinking. The old packs combined contained 1875 Q-Tips, but the new ones have 125 fewer Q-Tips — just 1750. Either way, this seems like a lifetime supply for many people.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Q-Tips

People have also been complaining online about the amount of cotton on the ends of Q-Tips. They say it has been reduced. Thanks to Glen B. for finding this product.

Charmin Strong

Our ace downsizing spotter, Richard G., discovered that Charmin in the red package finally downsized again (the soft version in the blue package did that last year). Now each roll has 330 sheets instead of the old 363.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Charmin Mega XL

Along with the reduction in sheets came a name change. P&G retired the name “Super Mega” and renamed the product Charmin Mega XL. They did this apparently so they could introduce an even larger roll called Mega XXL. (It would have been odd to have had to call it “Super Super Mega.”)

Tyson Chicken Nuggets

Don’t look now, but you probably lost 10% of the nuggets from each of Tyson’s two-pound bags. You now only get 29 ounces.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Tyson Chicken Nuggets

Richard G. spotted this one too, along with their chicken patties going from 10 in a package to just eight.

Bar Soap

The ever-shrinking soap bar continues to shrink. Now 3.17-ounce Dove bars are only 2.6 ounces. And Lever 2000 went from four ounces to 3.75.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Dove soap

Lever 2000

Betty Crocker Au Gratin Potatoes

What has Betty Crocker been cooking up lately? Smaller boxes of her au gratin potatoes, that’s what. They went down from 4.7 ounces to just four ounces. Thanks to both Nick B. and Richard G. for spotting this change.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Betty Crocker Au Gratin Potatoes

Jif Peanut Butter To Go Cups

Richard G. discovered that little cups of Jif peanut butter that kids might eat as a snack went down from 1.5 ounces per cup to just 1.1 ounces.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Jif to go cups

Lorna Doone Snack Pack

Lastly, a childhood cookie favorite, Lorna Doone, lost two of its six cookies in each snack pack, according to Susan L. So they’ve gone from an ounce-and-a-half down to just one ounce.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Lorna Doone

If you find a product that has been downsized very recently, please take a picture of the old version and the new version, side-by-side, if possible, clearly displaying the net content statements on both. You can email that to Edgar (at symbol) MousePrint.org . Thanks.

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Study: Consumer Attitudes About Shrinkflation

November 18, 2024 by Edgar (aka MrConsumer)

Purdue University just surveyed 1,200 consumers about food and grocery shopping (see full report) and has come up with some interesting insights into shoppers’ attitudes about shrinkflation.

Over 75-percent of the respondents said they noticed food packaging getting smaller. In particular, it was in these categories where they have seen the most changes:

Types of products shrinking

Some other interesting findings from the study include:

— Only 15-percent always check the weight of a product.
— Only 16-percent always check the unit price.

I am surprised that these numbers are even that high.

Shoppers were also asked which they preferred in the context of a snack product — whether manufacturers should just keep the product the same size but raise the price OR shrink the product and keep the price the same.

Shrink or don't shrink?

Lastly, here is how participants feel about a requirement that manufacturers disclose on the package any size changes, whether they switch brands when a product shrinks, and more:

Shrinkflation attitudes

Feel free to share your opinions in the comments.

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Are Tostitos and Other Chip Brands Really Reversing Shrinkflation?

October 21, 2024 by Edgar (aka MrConsumer)

A few weeks ago, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Madeleine Dean wrote to the CEOs of several corporations, including PepsiCo, accusing them of a pattern of profiteering off consumers by shrinking their products and charging the same or higher prices. We’ve covered various PepsiCo products including Tostitos downsizings over the years.

Then last week, breathless headlines announced that PepsiCo, which also makes Ruffles, Doritos, Lay’s and other brands, was reacting to these accusations of shrinkflation, and was now going to add 20% more chips to certain bags.

PepsiCo headlines

In the CNN story, the company said:

A PepsiCo spokesperson told CNN that Tostitos and Ruffles “bonus” bags will contain 20% more chips for the same price as standard bags in select locations. PepsiCo is also adding two additional small chip bags to its variety-pack option with 18 bags, the spokesperson said.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Consumer World AI Mock-up

Don’t jump to conclusions that PepsiCo has seen the light, is caving into governmental pressure and consumer anger, and plans to upsize all their products. PepsiCo is simply coming out with some “bonus” bags on some products in some areas it appears. By definition, a “bonus pack” is a temporary promotion whereby the new package has some additional content compared to the regular size. They did not announce a general upsizing of their products.

So, enjoy the extra chips while they last.