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Here We Shrink Again – Spring 2023

Some big brands are continuing to downsize their products as shrinkflation continues.

Bounty Paper Towels

In the seemingly never-ending shrinking of Bounty towels, the double rolls have just gone down from 98 select-a-size sheets to just 90. The new packages are noticeably lighter.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Bounty 98-90

The triple rolls of Bounty were also downsized from 147 select-a-size sheets per roll to 135. Thanks to Richard G. for spotting that.


Gain Detergent

P&G continued its downsizing with Gain liquid laundry detergent. The now standard 92-ounce size just lost four ounces and is down to only 88 ounces. It is hard to tell any difference between the bottles. Could Tide be next?

*MOUSE PRINT:

Gain detergent 92-88 oz


Oreo Double Stuf Cookies

People have been complaining about the amount of filling (the “stuf”) in Oreos decreasing lately. We don’t know if it has actually changed or not. But one thing for sure is some of their packages are getting smaller. In addition to regular Oreos and some of gluten-free ones, the family size bags of Double Stuf Oreos now have four fewer cookies in each bag. Perhaps the family got smaller.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Oreos


Dawn Dishwashing Liquid

Dawn is another one of those brands that periodically changes sizes. This time, the 19.4-ounce bottle was downsized to 18 ounces. Did you notice?

*MOUSE PRINT:

Dawn


BD Syringes

Colleen M. reported that even medical products are getting downsized. In particular, BD brand syringes used for injecting insulin have gone from 100 in a box down 10-percent to just 90. Yet, the package erroneously still says there are 10 multi-packs inside when there are really only nine. Our consumer went on to say, “The packaging has not changed at all, the box is the same size (making people think they are getting the same amount), but we are now getting 10% less.”

BD syringes


Sara Lee Bagels

When you buy a baker’s dozen of bagels, you get one additional bagel. What do you call it when you buy a pakcage of Sara Lee bagels and get one less? Steve C. of Arizona says it is a sneaky change.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Sara Lee bagels


Umpqua Frozen Yogurt

This brand of ice cream and frozen yogurt, primarily distributed in western states, was one of the last holdouts to reduce their 56-ounce containers to 48 ounces. Thanks to Janet W. and Michael F. for this tip.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Umpqua


Crest Gum Detoxify

P&G continues to shrink various varieties of their toothpastes. This time it is Crest Detoxify which went from 4.1 ounces to 3.7 ounces — about a 10% reduction.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Crest Detoxify


Kettle Potato Chips

Snack foods, and in particular potato chips, are one of the categories of groceries that keep being downsized. This time, it is Kettle potato chips going from 8.5-oz. bags to 7.5-oz. bags.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Kettle potato chips


All Free & Clear Pacs

Another category subject to periodic shrinkage is laundry detergents. This time, it is All Free & Clear’s turn, where the number of laundry pacs in one of their larger sizes had gone from 66 to down 60. So you get a half a dozen fewer loads per bag.

*MOUSE PRINT:

All Free & Clear


Kellogg’s Corn Pops

They used to call these “Sugar Pops” years ago, but Kellogg’s found a healthier-sounding way to market them. The small 10-ounce box appears to be getting company in places like drugstores with an even smaller box being introduced –one with over 20-percent less. To see them head-on, they look identical.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Kellogg's Corn Pops

We asked Kellogg’s if the 7.8 oz. size was replacing the 10-oz. one. Customer service responded, “Both sizes are currently in the market and it is up the retailer to decide which sizes they will carry.” Walgreens apparently carries both at the moment, and at the same price.

Corn Pops at Walgreens

The large size of Corn Pops also is being downsized from 14.3 ounces to 13.1 ounces. The new box is actually taller than the old one (but narrower), costs 20 cents more at our Stop & Shop, and provides nine servings instead of ten!

Kellogg's Corn Pops Large


Ortega Taco Shells

Nick B. told us about Ortega taco shells in “new look” packages, that almost an ounce going from 5.8 ounces to 4.9. And he said, they no longer came in a protective tray. The change took place around the fall of 2022.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Ortega tacos


Thanks to all our submitters. If you find an item that has recently gotten smaller, please send a sharp, side-by-side picture of the old and new product, showing the net weight or net count to Edgar (at symbol) ConsumerWorld.org . Thanks!

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Got (Less) Milk? – Some Half Gallons of Milk Downsized

Over the last few years, specialty milks like A2 milk, ultra-filtered milk like Fairway, extra protein milk, and plant-based products like soy and almond milk often started coming in unconventional size cartons like 52 or 59 ounces. But regular milk has reliably been sold only by the quart, half gallon, and gallon. Not anymore.

In a reversal of a standard that many thought was sacrosanct, one dairy cooperative in the Pacific Northwest has done the unthinkable. They downsized their half-gallon cartons of regular ultra-pasteurized milk to just 59 ounces.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Darigold milk

Darigold’s cartons of “classic” whole, 2-percent, 1-percent, and fat-free milk all are now five ounces less. And the dimensions of the new cartons look virtually identical to the old ones, best we can tell, but for being less than a quarter of an inch shorter. Of course that raises the question of possible slack-fill.

How are customers reacting? We think most have not noticed the change. One of our readers, Katie G., said she was alerted to the change because some stores in her area have posted signs warning that the new smaller milk containers don’t qualify under their state’s WIC program for low income folks with children.

Darigold WIC

And some consumers are telling the company on its website they are not pleased.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Putting the screws to us milk drinkers! Went to buy a half gallon, nope! 59 ounces! Are you nuts? I switched brands for the first time in 30 years!

On reddit, hundreds of shoppers complained, saying things like:

I just let them know why I will no longer be purchasing their products…

Since it used to be a true half gallon, and it’s next to other half-gallon brands in the same container at the store, most consumers would never know the difference. Pretty clever. I’m glad it’s backfiring on them.

Where are the yellers and screamers to protest Darigold on behalf of WIC participants? This makes me angry and I can easily never buy darigold again.

We asked the company to explain why they downsized, how they have responded to complaints, whether they lowered prices to compensate for the lessened quantity, etc. A company spokesperson replied, in part:

We made this change in packaging size at the beginning of the year largely as response to higher production costs for ESL [ultra-pasteurized] milk. Rather than passing along the full impact of inflation to consumers, we opted to make the container slightly smaller and take a smaller price increase.

He also noted that their regular milk sold in conventional translucent plastic containers was still the traditional size.

The question is, what’s next when it comes to shrinkflation? Eleven eggs in a carton?

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Everyone’s Complaining About Toothpaste!

Over the past several months, we have received more complaints about toothpaste than any other product category.

The first complaints are about the consistency getting thinner.

I believe that toothpaste has been diluted from how I remember it to be. My recollection is having to use some effort squeezing the paste out of the tube. Now it seems like it’s barely a paste… –Ralph

CREST toothpaste pro-health 4.6 oz doesn’t say PASTE anymore and its consistency is more liquid and diluted than before. –Danilo D.

And of course, there are examples of shrinkflation.

*MOUSE PRINT:

We had purchased a multi-pack of Crest brand toothpaste at Costco, probably over a year ago. We did so again recently. Note the difference in net weight. –Paul R.

Crest shrinks

Verner E. also had a complaint about the new smaller Crest tubes from Costco.

I purchased a package of 5 tubes from Costco. When I used the first tube it felt like there was a lot of air in it. Same with the 2nd tube. The next tube I did an experiment by weighing the full tube and then subtracting the weight of an empty tube. I discovered that the contents only weighed 4.5 oz. while the tube advertises a net 5.2 oz. This is only 86.5 % of what is advertised on the tube. I called P&G to notify them of this rip-off but all they wanted to do was send me a coupon .

Here are additional “more air in tubes, less paste” complaints.

The photo attached is of a Crest Toothpaste tube after one squeeze which released about a pea sized amount of paste. It took many squeezes to get the toothpaste to the opening. Apparently the top third was filled with air. –CV

Crest empty space

When half used, you will notice air pocket in center of tube. — Kevin & Margaret C.

I’ll add my own complaint about a sample of Crest Gum Detoxify that I got from my dentist. It made the soft bristles on my toothbrush stiff!

We asked P&G, the maker of Crest, to comment on these complaints, but they did not.

Feel free to chime in with your toothpaste gripes in the comments.