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No, I don’t mean smaller packaging for environmental or transportation-cost purposes. I mean less actual food. The other day, I noticed that the half-gallon of orange juice we buy had been downsized to 59 ounces. But, importantly, the box’s footprint was the same size so that it still fit snugly in the ‘fridge door.
The Times has a rundown called “Food Inflation Kept Hidden in Tinier Bags.” It’s well worth reading. The funny part is that if the intention of the smaller packages were to fight obesity, the article might have been more complimentary.
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But this is hardly a new phenomenon, is it? I’m sure it’s been going on for at least 50 years. (Research left as an exercise for the student.)
Don’t get me started! Friendly’s Ice Cream “half gallon” size is now only 1.5qt. At least Stewart’s (my local convenience store chain) still puts 8 cups in their half gallon!
Smaller single-serve packages (potatoe chips, candy bars, soda) is great. Does anyone really need 20oz or a liter of soda at one sitting; I love the smaller cans and bottles of soda I see now and then. But when you downsize a half gallon to a few cups, you’re trying to deceive your consumer, there’s no other explanation.
Yes, Tropicana has slowly been moving toward 59oz. Our store brand (Harris Teeter) thankfully hasnt. I’ve also noticed smaller cracker sizes, cereal, tuna fish, etc. Remember when half-gallon ice cream really was a half-gallon? Lots of micro reductions too (before: 16oz, now 15.25 oz)….
My question is whether the packaging change is fooling the BLS.
I have noticed this with toilet paper, but not quit the way you might think. It doesn’t appear that the # of sheets is reduced (but I haven’t checked, either). I think the rolls are narrower. It has become easier to get a roll to fit on the holder because there’s more room between the edge of the roll and the end of the holder. Has anyone else noticed this? (Yes, I’m a married man and I actually replace the empty roll – although I’ve sworn my wife to secrecy).
Why raise prices when you can reduce content in a way the average consumer hardly notices?
This is nothing new. Consumer Reports has a section on this several times a year in their publication.