Shrinkflation: Watch out for these downsized products at your grocery store

Jason Law
·2 min read

Richard Russo recently noticed his favorite brand of yogurt was a little bit smaller than normal.

“They were always traditionally six ounces. [The company] paired them down to 5.3 ounces and they charge you the same price as though they were selling you six [ounces], Russo said.”

That practice is known as shrinkflation, when brands charge the same amount for a little bit less product. Consumer World founder Edgar Dworsky has tracked shrinkflation for 30 years and calls out companies that quietly downsize their products.

“Most people don’t [look at sizes or amounts when they shop]. That’s how these companies get away with it. It’s kind of a sneaky, backdoor price increase that most people don’t catch,” Dworsky said.

Dworsky recently found new examples of shrinkflation at local grocery stores.

  • Double Stuff Oreos: old package 1 lb 4 oz, new package 1 lb 2.71 oz

  • Dawn dish soup: old container 19.4 fl. oz, new container 18 fl. oz

  • Bounty Triples: old package 147 sheets per roll, new package 135 sheets per roll

  • Kellogg’s Corn Pops (large size): old box 14. 6 oz, new box 13.1 oz

  • Gain detergent: old container 92 fl. oz, new container 88 fl. oz

Dworsky said there are four ways to protect yourself from shrinkflation:

FOCUS MORE ON SIZE

Pay close attention to quantity and weight; it makes it easier to spot shrinkflation when your favorite product suddenly gets smaller.

“We have to look at the products we buy all the time. How many sheets on your rolls of toilet paper or paper towels? How many ounces in your orange juice? How big is the family size of cereal?” Dworsky said. “That’s the only way you’ll be able to tell if the manufacturer is tinkering with it when you go back to buy the next box or bag.”

COMPARE BRANDS

Check out a company’s competitors if your favorite product has downsized--and don’t forget to look at the store brand.

“The store brand tends to be the last to downsize,” Dworsky said. “See if a competitor hasn’t changed and switch brands.”

COMPLAIN TO THE COMPANY

Write an email or a letter to the manufacturer to complain. It won’t stop shrinkflation but it could save you some money.

“Are Charmin or Cottonelle going to change because you wrote a letter? No, but they’ll send you some coupons,” Dworsky said.

USE UNIT PRICING

Unit pricing is the “price per ounce” or the “price per count” labeled on the shelf. Unit pricing gives buyers a good baseline for what their getting for their money.

“[With unit pricing] you can compare different products of different sizes and brands and find which one really is the best deal,” Dworsky said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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