Downsizing / Shrinkflation – Page 16

Updated every Monday! Subscribe to free weekly newsletter.

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

March 14, 2022 by Edgar (aka MrConsumer)

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:

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:

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:

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:

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)

March 28, 2022March 7, 2022 by Edgar (aka MrConsumer)

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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!

Updated every Monday! Subscribe to free weekly newsletter.

Here We Downsize Again — Year-End 2021

January 26, 2022December 27, 2021 by Edgar (aka MrConsumer)

NOTE: The next new Mouse Print* story will be published on January 10.

We end the year with another round of products that have been downsized from their former larger-size packages. Of course, the new-fangled name for this is “shrinkflation.” But, no matter what you call it, it still is a sneaky way to pass on a price increase.

Crest Toothpaste

I don’t know how anyone can keep track of toothpaste tube sizes these days. They just keep getting smaller and smaller. Here, Crest 3D White lost over eight percent of its contents, going from 4.1 ounces to just 3.8. Thanks to Richard G. for spotting this change.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Milky Way

Candy is another big category for downsizing. This time, it is Milky Way Fun Size bars that went from 11.24 oz. down to 10.65 oz. There is just a little less fun in each bag. Thanks to M.F. for spotting the change.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Twinings Tea CORRECTION

Even the stately boxes of Earl Grey tea by Twinings got hit by the shrink-ray, it appeared, according to reader M.F. In this case, it looked like the 25-count boxes were downsized to just 20.

*MOUSE PRINT:

However, a representative for Twinings just reached out to us to say that Twinings tea has NOT in fact been downsized. They apparently sell both the 20 and 25-count boxes of tea bags to different retailers. So depending on where you shop, you may find either the smaller box or the larger one. We regret the error.

Gain Detergent

P&G apparently has been tinkering with the cup size or the formula for Gain laundry detergent. The new bottles contain 11 ounces less than the old ones, but supposedly you still get the same 107 loads out of every container. Of course, no one ever gets the number of loads promised on the label out of a bottle of detergent. That count is usually for a tiny load only when filling the cup a fraction of the way up to a line that is virtually invisible.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Aleve

Finally, if all these shrinking products give you a headache, don’t turn to the 100-caplet size bottles of Aleve. They now only have 90 pills.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Kirkland Paper Towels UPsized

Last May, we showed you how Costco had downsized their Kirkland paper towels from 160 sheets on a roll to 140. [Original story] Well, fast-forward to this past September, and reader David F. reported that Costco had restored the missing 20 sheets to their paper towel rolls, so they are back up to 160 sheets. Perhaps it was all the bad publicity that surrounded that downsizing that convinced the company to bring back the previous larger size. In any event, hat’s off to Costco.

If you find an example of a product that has downsized, please submit a sharp photo of the old and new packages side-by-side to Edgar (at symbol) MousePrint.org . Thanks.