These 6 Grocery Items Are Shrinking in Size, Customers Say

by Amanda McDonald - Eat This, Not That!

Grocery stores are taking extreme measures to combat price hikes caused
by the pandemic-including buying more stock of supplies before prices
climb even higher. But the problem isn't just affecting grocery
stores-it's also making its way up the supply chain to food
manufacturers-and their method of coping is a bit different.

What follows are some of the popular grocery store products you know and
love that have already been reduced in size thanks to this
"shrinkflation." And for more on the current state of grocery shopping,
check out The Best Supermarket in America, New Survey Says.(https://tinyurl.com/ECHO-FOOD)

1. CEREAL Boxes of General Mills cereal-like Cheerios, Chex, Fiber One,
Lucky Charms, and more-have gone down from 19 to 18 ounces, Fox Business reports.

Asked to comment on this change, Kelsey Roemhildt, General Mills
spokesperson, tells Eat This, Not That!:

"General Mills has been working to create consistency and
standardization across our cereal products, making it easier for
shoppers to distinguish between sizes on shelves. The majority of the
portfolio has been through changes. For consumers seeking the best price
per ounce, the most value is normally in our larger boxes of cereal. A
typical bowl of cereal costs under one dollar, and is one of the most affordable breakfasts for many families."

2. ORANGE JUICE OJ is reportedly another popular grocery store item that
is about five ounces smaller than normal, Fox Business says. According
to one expert, this is likely a better option that raising the cost of
the juice.

Edgar Dworsky, the founder of consumerworld.org and a former
Massachusetts Assistant Attorney General, told San Diego news station
CBS8: "Manufacturers know that consumers are price-conscious, so if
they're selling cartons of orange juice normally for $2.99 and they have
to raise the price to $3.19, they really know that consumers are gonna
spot that. But, they also know if they take out a few ounces from the
orange juice container, most consumers are not going to know and not
going to complain."

3. ICE CREAM Regarding the shrinking of ice cream pints and cartons,
Barbara Eastman, the owner of Happy Foods in Chicago, told Fox
Business's Grady Trimble in a recent on-air interview: "It's been going
on for about, I'd say, two and a half years, but now we can really see
it. The packaging actually looks the same - it's unusual. Like a pint of
ice cream is 14 ounces."

(We've known and discussed this for years - UDD)

4. WHEAT THINS Dworsky wrote on mouseprint.org that Wheat Thins are a
victim of "shrinkflation" too. According to him, the Family Size box
recently went from 16 ounces down to 14.

5. DORITOS Bags of chips often feel like they are made up of mostly air,
and Dworsky claims the 9.75-ounce bags are now just 9.25 ounces.

6. COSTCO PAPER TOWELS Costco paper towels are smaller than they use to
be by 20 sheets, but they're also cheaper, going from $16.99 for
160-sheet rolls to $14.79 for 140-sheet rolls. The change is reportedly temporary, the chain says, based on the huge demand for the product
since the onset of the pandemic.

A SPOKESPERSON TELLS EAT THIS, NOT THAT! IN A STATEMENT: "This change
enabled us to increase the number of sell units we can provide to our
members and provide better in stocks so that members can more easily
find the product in our stores. We do want to assure you that we did not increase the price per sheet to our members ... We recognize this change
is not ideal and hope to return to the original 160 sheet per roll item
as soon as possible."

(Anyone who believes the "spokesmodel/marketroid" raise your hand - UDD)


... January 6, 2021. ANOTHER day that will live in infamy!
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