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Shrinkflation database tracks diminishing size of food products [1]
['Rob Beschizza']
Date: 2023-09-15
The Shrinkflation Tracker, by Sam Lader, is on a mission to stop manufacturers quietly putting less food inside product packaging without a corresponding fall in price to consumers. The practice is out of control, so much so that even major retailers are beginning to warn customers against lest they suspect complicity in the practice.
Among the brands named and shamed by the site are Pringles (7% shrink in the weight of chips in a tube), Dove soap (20% shrink in bar size) and Colgate (25%!). From the packaging and candy brands, the site appears to be for products in Britain and Ireland. Hopefully a U.S. section will be forthcoming.
Shrinkflation, a subtle yet significant phenomenon, refers to the practice of manufacturers reducing the size or quantity of a product while maintaining its price. The platform offers users the opportunity to contribute their observations and engage in discussions related to these changes. By tracking changes in product sizes and quantities and uniting individuals who are concerned about fair consumer practices, Shrinkflation Index aims to create a space for advocacy and informed consumerism.
One thing that a tracker like this can't see is the diminishing quality of certain brands: cheaper ingredients, watered-down formulas, and so on. Bleach that was 9% sodium hypochlorite now 6.95%, that sort of thing. The Guardian's Hilary Osbourne wrote recently about "Skimpflation," as it's called.
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