When manufacturers want to save money, they can make the package smaller (shrinkflation) or reformulate the product using cheaper ingredients (skimpflation). This time, two companies chose the latter, and are cutting back on the amount of protein in their products.
| Healthy Choice Protein Bowls |
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Sometime in the past several months Healthy Choice decided to come out with a new name and new recipe for the Power Bowls. They renamed them “Protein Bowls” and kept the size the same – 9.75 ounces. But ironically, they reduced the protein in each package by 15% from 26 grams down to 22 grams.
*MOUSE PRINT:
Best we can tell the amount of chicken stayed the same because both products have the same amount of saturated fat. But it looks like they reduced the amount of pinto beans and added more leafy greens.
| Kellogg’s Special K Protein |
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A while back Rob S. told us about Special K Protein cereal that reduced the amount of protein in their product from 15 grams per serving to just 10 — a one-third reduction. They removed wheat gluten from the reformulated product – a source of protein.
*MOUSE PRINT:
Apparently this was a very popular cereal with many consumers buying it by the case. And then they noticed the protein reduction. From the Kellogg’s website, their fury boiled over in dozens of one-star reviews.
I have been eating this cereal EVERY SINGLE MORNING FOR YEARS. So imagine my surprise when I recently stumbled upon this page to find the reviews pointing out that Kellogg’s dramatically lowered the amount of protein in it. I understand it’s not like they’re going to slap a banner across the box that says, “Now with much less protein!” But, come on, this was sneaky and underhanded. It has made me lose all faith in Kellogg’s. I thought I was losing it!! Nice, thanks for ripping us off. My husband just bought me a huge box. It will be the last one. Boo! Hiss! Shame on you for trying to trick customers with labeling. You know exactly what you have done with lowing the amount of protein in your product and charging same high price. You have successfully lost another customer!!
If you find a product that was reformulated or watered down with cheaper ingredients, please send the details to Edgar (at symbol) MousePrint.org. Thanks.