Downsizing / Shrinkflation

Here are products that have shrunken in size as a sneaky way for manufacturers to pass on a hidden price increase.

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Folgers Gets More Coffee Out of Fewer Beans

Folgers and other brands of coffee have faced various lawsuits recently alleging that it is impossible to get the full number of cups of coffee promised on each canister. Now the lawyers may have a real field day because Folgers has dramatically dropped the number of ounces on some its canisters but kept the number of cups that each will yield the same.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Folgers 51 -43.5

Each 51-ounce canister lost 7.5 ounces, bringing the size down to just 43.5 ounces, but you still supposedly get 400 cups. When asked on Twitter about this, the company explained the change:

We have employed a new, roasting technology that makes the most out of every bean — resulting in lighter-weight coffee grounds that deliver the same taste you love across the same number of brewed cups. Through the use of this new roasting process, we’re able to get more coffee flavor from each bean while providing the same amount of coffee servings. The total weight of our coffee products will be reduced, but the amount of coffee you receive, by way of total servings, will remain the exact same. Hope this clears up any confusion.

This reminds MrConsumer of a similar response P&G made perhaps 35 years ago about their flaked coffee. They said they had fluffed up the beans so much, exposing more surfaces of the grounds, that they could no longer fit 16 ounces in the can. But, it would still make as many cups as the original.

Folgers Flaked Coffee

Other Folgers coffee containers, old and new, spotted on retailers’ websites recently are real head-scratchers too:

Folgers differences

It is not the new math. The middle container was subject to the new bean processing technology.

Note: Packages are displayed only to show numerical changes in net contents. Physical package dimensions may or may not be to scale.

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Here We Downsize Again – Winter ’22 (Part 2)

We continue this week to spotlight big brands that are shrinking their products but charging the same or more for them. Shrinkflation continues unabated.

Cottonelle

Just like Charmin, Cottonelle has reduced the number of sheets it provides on each roll of toilet paper depending on the variety (soft or strong). Here, the strong version of Cottonelle mega rolls has gone from 340 1-ply sheets to just 312. And the soft version went from 284 2-ply sheets to just 268. See past examples of how Cottonelle has shrunk over the years. Thanks to Richard G. for this submission.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Cottonelle
Cottonelle

Sun-Maid Raisins

Those canisters of Sun-Maid Raisins are getting smaller too. They just lost over two-and-a-half ounces each.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Sunmaid raisins

Chobani Yogurt

Remember when yogurt used to come in eight-ounce cups? Those days are long gone. Some of them aren’t even six ounces anymore. And the specialty versions with mix-ins, just got even smaller. Thanks to Richard G. who spotted this change.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Chobani-mix

Dove Body Wash

Like so many shampoos, body wash bottles are getting smaller too. Here, Dove Body Wash went from 24 oz. to 22.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Dove Body Wash

Safeguard Soap

Remember when “bath size” soap was five ounces? Those days are long gone because soap has been shrinking for years. Most recently, Safeguard has gone from four ounces down to only 3.2 — just about the size of what was once considered a regular bar.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Safeguard bar soap

If you find an example of a product that has recently been downsized, please take a clear before and after picture, including the net weight or net count statement and send it to: Edgar (at symbol) MousePrint.org . Thanks.

Updated every Monday!   Subscribe to free weekly newsletter.

Here We Downsize Again – Winter ’22 (Part 1)

With inflation rearing its ugly head, we are seeing not only a wave of direct price increases on groceries, but also sneaky ones when manufacturers inconspicuously reduce the size of their products. This downsizing or shrinkflation as it currently is called is so prevalent at the moment, we have to spend this week and next showing you the dozen examples we’ve collected.

Charmin

Over the past 60 years we’ve seen Charmin toilet paper go from 650 single-ply sheets on a roll to the equivalent of 90% less assuming you could even find single rolls any longer. The latest change shows ultra soft “Mega” rolls going from 264 double-ply sheets per roll to 244. And “Super Mega” rolls went from 396 sheets to 366.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Charmin Mega 264-244

Older, larger sizes of Charmin that we have tracked can be seen here. Thanks to our ace downsizing detector, Richard G., for this submission.

Snyder’s Pretzels

Snyder’s Honey Mustard & Onion pretzels now have a “new look” and “big flavor” but come in a new smaller size. Thanks to Richard G. for spotting this change.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Snyder pretzels

Keebler Cookies

Coming to supermarket shelves soon are new smaller packages of Keebler cookies. Chips Deluxe with M&Ms are going from 11.3 oz. to 9.75 and even more dramatic changes are occurring in their “family size” package. And Keebler E.L. Fudge packages lost 1.3 ounces and 20 calories per cookie. Note: In some stores, the new, smaller family size Chips Deluxe with M&Ms is one dollar less.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Keebler M&M cookies
Keebler Family Size
Keebler fudge

Gatorade

Gatorade has come in 32 ounces bottles forever, it seems. Now the product has gone on a diet and their new bottles have developed a waistline. That indent around the middle of the bottle is a telltale sign that the new bottles hold less — four ounces less, in fact. But, they are the exact same height.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Gatorade

Pantene Conditioner

Pantene conditioner recently changed its packaging going from a bottle to a tube. And somehow two full ounces of the product disappeared in the process. Thanks to Richard G. for spotting this change.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Pantene conditioner

Earth’s Best Snack Bars

It looks like a good math lesson comes courtesy of this Sesame Street snack bar. Kids, can you say “seven” instead of “eight” bars are now in every box? Thanks to Richard G. again.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Earth's Best Sesame St

If you find a product that has been downsized recently, please send a before and after picture with the net weight or net count showing to Edgar (at symbol) MousePrint.org . Thanks!