Are Your Favourite Food Products Shrinking? We Find Out Why | Talking Point | Shrinkflation

[@sunnyraingene]

In most European countries, it is mandatory for stores like supermarkets and drugstores to list the per volume price so that consumers can just see the difference instead of having to take out our calculators and do the calculations on our own. Maybe we can also do this in Sg!

[@user-bi8ko7kc6h]

But most people won't notice if the final price stays the same and per volume increases for the same product overtime. Unless they make a note of price per volume, most people only remember the final price.

[@imgood6535]

What is per volume lol 😂 it's should be per unit volume .

[@jamestaylor8577]

This is the same in Australia. It's a really good thing for consumers.

[@jamestaylor8577]

@@user-bi8ko7kc6h The pricing tickets state how many grams per 100grams or how many mls per 100 mls your getting of the product. It's very noticeable and easy to make comparisons.

[@davisholman8149]

@@user-bi8ko7kc6h Same in the USA - they have for decades - it is small print & folks do not bother reading it very often. I watch it because I am a bargain shopper. But it is more a matter of comparing brands than keeping track of what brands are giving us less product.

[@mxkaka]

Steven is a gem of a host!

[@Lampuunion9989]

Nah bro

[@kitokid86400]

Funny thing is I always notice this kind of changes all the time. Cause I love to check the weight on the bottle, visual aspect of the product etc. How the fried dumpling from hawker center get smaller.. how the biscuit doesn't need to break in half to dip into coffee anymore.. really enjoy your talking point series.. keep on the good work team 🙂

[@CKing-388]

My 13yr old daughter noticed how much less she gets in lunchables now. 3 chicken bites instead of 4… 5 slices of meat and cheese instead of 7… etc.

[@nicholasbolas]

The worst ones are increasing price AND downsizing the product. Like certain curry puffs... practically all the fastfood brands selling burgers... And the incoming GST.... Good luck to us peasants...

[@meman3462]

What was once America now you get a package and the wrappings corporations are stealing

[@NoMoneyG]

Thank you for this! Unfortunately shrinkflation is happening on almost everything! Now the prices are rising & not by a small amount, by 20-30%!! That's outrageous. I've listened to to many corporate profit calls & they laugh that their profits are through the roof! Profit year over year. It's disgusting & disgraceful corporate greed.

[@laraantipova389]

So wait a minute. Why did companies suddenly become more greedy. Wouldn’t they be consistently greedy?

[@leannebishop7880]

Yup Pure greed their greed is insane

[@contenteater]

@@leannebishop7880But why now ..

[@user-bi8ko7kc6h]

Finally, I'm not the only one who noticed this 😂😂. I notice this yearssss ago. Companies want to keep the price low or stay at the same price so they have to reduce the volume of product.

[@sugarashley]

I’ve been telling people this for years! I first noticed it when the Mars bar shrunk. Then I started spotting it everywhere

[@arissajoan]

Yes!! They really think we consumers are stupid and not noticed 😑

[@iawarenow658]

@@arissajoan yes found best thing was to stop eating branded products all together or anything made in a massive factory.. is healthier for everyone too..

[@Happy-v3f5d]

living space also shrink. It will be interesting to look at why balcony is bigger than living room in new condo..haha

[@happycook6737]

This is also happening in the USA. Bacon was 16 ounces 500g.Now 12ounces! Cost summer 2021 $3.50USD. Now $6. McDonald's quarter pounder meal in medium size was $6.70 now $10. 500g ground beef (mince) was $3.50 now $5.25. Some things stayed same like sack of flour. 5pounds 2.5 kg for $1.97. Bananas 500g for .79 cents. Cooking oil doubled in price. We are now only eating at home and cooking cheap recipes. I also learned how to make restaurant clone recipes like famous coffee shop, pizza place, etc. If anyone is looking for a fabulous easy cookie try the 1970's "ice box" log cookies. I keep the log in my freezer and can have fresh chocolate chip or sugar or spice cookies in 12 minutes using toaster oven. Slice and bake. Microwave mug cakes are our other "new" favorite.

[@kellyprince2552]

This should be illegal and the company's fined!!!!

[@dodieodie498]

The most obvious for me have been the product sizes in Dollar Tree stores. They have to have that set price, so it is easier to compare what is there today to what you would have seen just a few years ago. The latest packages are almost cute as they appear child sized.

[@izharfatima5295]

Ironically, when they say that they want to win the brand loyalty by not cheating on consumers the strategy is to deceive them unknowingly. Paradox it is!

[@pfever]

If stores labeled the products with the price per 100 grams, it would be obvious to spot which product is becoming more expensive

[@dwichiesa]

So funny to think that they actually care about their customers. It's all about the shareholders

[@clementihammock7572]

Likewise politicians only care about their party.

[@eavyeavy2864]

So funny you think you are truthsayer when you just coping

[@JKSNsensei]

Before watching, I’m just going to make a bold guess… … because profit.

[@JKSNsensei]

@naggers jaggers second guess was Space monkeys. It has to be one or the other!

[@bowlampar]

Most of the world go through inflation recently, while shrinkflation is silently works its way into my super big Mac, triple cheeseburger, big size French Fries n beef jerky daily.😳😳

[@chantaltq]

Thanks for sharing the tips on some of the ways we can save on groceries. Most of the time though, when I’m pressed for time, I might just get the things I want from a single supermarket instead. In most areas, the “budget shops” aren’t always in close proximity. If time is money, then I feel like I’m actually indirectly “spending money” for wasting the time going through different stores just to save a few bucks..unless the saving is significant of course

[@gotmyonu1027]

Can you do a series on shrinking salaries of typical Singaporeans... Locals? We used to be able to buy kopi for 70¢... Now is 1.50...obviously our salaries are shrinking....

[@Redsunns]

about 20 years ago, my Chips Ahoy shrinked so much that i avoided it till now...

[@pjpororo323]

Finally a program to talk about this! I have noticed and lamenting, the inflation didn't just happen now, we have this issue for quite a while!! When times are better, the manufacturer doesn't increase back the volume, should reduce the cost isn't it?

[@lucretius8050]

General rule is when you see the packaging has changed it is almost always shrinkflation or sometimes a change in which country it is produced where you might also experience a change in quality. (With sometimes the rare instances of changing to greener packaging due to trends) No company in the right mind would purposely invest in new machines as it costs a lot of money. There's also one more trick which is to sell "fun/bite size" which costs more by weight but it looks more.

[@laurarules3642]

Foods are indeed shrinking but why do things taste so different now to how they did 20 to 30 years ago? I can't think of any products snack wise (junk food and drinks basically) that taste the same.

[@samanthahardy9903]

Things taste different because companies change the ingredients. E.g. Ovaltine tastes different now compared to when I was a child because they took out the malt and reduced the sugar.. So now if I want to taste the same Ovaltine I had as a child I buy the cheapest malt drink, add a couple of teaspoons of sugar and a teaspoon of the cheapest hot chocolate.

[@ylee247]

Strangely enough our waistlines continue to expand ...🚼

[@rexang3315]

Must be all the cheap pratas I am having for supper

[@professorposh4146]

Where's the proof?

[@amosaiccosmos6302]

Hahahahaha

[@emailant]

Great Episode! I’ve always noticed shrink flatiron and am really that it’s being brought to light for the masses. There is another peculiar thing I’ve noticed too and hope you can dive into it if possible. Brands do sell a different flavour of their products regionally. You’ll only notice if you use the same product alot over and over. For example, I used to drink Season’s Iced Lemon Tea and different cans have different taste. (Yes, bottled and canned have different taste too but this can versus can). Like one packaged for Singapore and one for Malaysia. Even water. Ice Mountain.. I’ve encountered differences and the only obvious tell is, the height of the cap is shallower for one of them.

[@simmonslack9088]

Hi CNA producers and Steven Chia, keep up the good work ! You guys are awesome.

[@xuanxuan23]

This is the reason why I try to consume food that I can only get in bulk and no package. As this means I’m only paying only for the food.

[@isabellapermatasari1957]

This has been classified as business strategy called "just noticeable difference" so instead of increasing the product price every year (due to inflation etcetc) they'll just deliver less..

[@bsommer1717]

they key though, is once they decrease quality, or make the product smaller, they are never going to go back to the old way...its here to stay.

[@plekkchand]

Above all, insult your customers' intelligence and never be honest to them. Seems like a good plan for social harmony.

[@mountainguy4710]

Jacob's cream crackers in the tin used to be filled full. Now it's only 2/3 full.

[@w2385-i2s]

Smaller portion means smaller people. Good for the environment and earth.

[@M1dKnight1am]

Question is, can you sue these big companies? Or at least reduce the pricing for every ounce / grams / kilo they take out?

[@maenad1231]

Nope

[@patriciachoy5607]

In the US and Canada, prices at supermarket includes price per unit measurement (e.g. price per ounce), so that it's easier to compare if a revised packaging affected the volume and to compare between products.

[@sunnyraingene]

Same for most European countries!

[@hazellxh]

Thanks to the team and host for this insightful video!

[@eleanoraisyah925]

I don’t mind they shrink the products but make sure the costs shrink too. Instead we get smaller size with the same price or even higher price.

[@gabevalen4919]

Shrinkflation inflation been inflated and deflated so much that I wouldn't be surprised when you open a bag of chips you'd get just chip dust

[@tuapuikia]

I would rather pay more than shrink the serving size 😢😢😢

[@RainRemnant]

This is a bit similar to KZbin cranking up the ads to now every 2 to 3 minutes

[@XxXenosxX]

The answer is yes, even down to the size of bagels in stores. Noticed it a huge amount after COVID.

[@dwichiesa]

Am I the only one who always look at the nett weight of an item and divide it with the price? So that you'd get the best deal per gram.

[@TemplarLove]

I noticed my fav chocolate bars shrink like crazy and now I’m doing it most of the time

[@michaelh7394]

We understand that companies have 2 choices (charge more or get less). But we also have 2 choices (pay for the item or purchase a different brand). What most people don't understand is the environmental damage being done, because you are purchasing more packages then before. Ice cream was 64oz and now 48oz a reduction of about 25%. before 4 carton = 256oz now 5 cartons = 240oz , Now you need to purchase 1 more package and you are still getting 16oz less.

[@vavaiva4080]

magnum icecream in my country… the regular and small ones only has little difference 😌

[@alvinmah6148]

Mc Donald’s chicken patties and fish fillet have shrunk too. Shrunk alot

[@izharfatima5295]

Well suited title shrinkflation. It stings when the bags/wrappers weight is also substituted to keep the profit margin same but the person at the end gets least out of it.

[@Tammissa]

This is just the rich getting richer and the consumer suffering the cost. Filling the big companies pockets with more $$.

[@franknew9001]

George Costanza talked about "shrinkage" on an episode of Seinfeld. 😊😊

[@petersmith2040]

Shrinkflation happens when manufacturers know that the customers who can’t afford to pay for the higher prices, if they increase their prices, will still be able to afford to buy their products. On the other hand, those who can afford to pay the higher prices will continue to buy their products despite shrinking sizes. It’s a very delicate balancing act to keep their customers.

[@silverdamascus2023]

In Brazil, there are laws obligating companies to warn customers of the reduction in weight, and changes to their formulas. But after some months, they can remove the warning in the packaging unless they do it again, and in the end, they just need to warn us and we can't do much if we still want their products and their old formulas.

[@grafito4438]

Supermarkets do the same thing. Sometimes the smaller version of an item is more expensive than the larger version. You have to calculate the price per litre or kilogram and then compare it.

[@kohwenxu]

At 8:00 They talk about the chips, lowest one being 147g. I have Pringles with 134g net weight. Shrinkflation being pretty bad

[@chickeabiddy]

Nice.. Steve's show is becoming our version of CBC Marketplace 😄

[@garyholt8315]

that is good. we need more marketplace programs to expose the greed. the government certainly doesn't care about the consumer.

[@Jay-ru2cw]

Yes! I recently noticed that the processed sausages that I used to eat when I was younger became thinner… and I thought I remembered wrongly. This video confirmed my suspicion. Thanks team for always coming up with such interesting and insightful content! Looking forward to the next one!

[@calvinfoo]

The Magnum ice cream now so small. Really not satisfying at all

[@caplin]

I remember few years back when i was in KL they put price per unit in each price tag. It was easier to compare the price. Now i have to manually check and calculate each one.. 😬

[@mcnasty4207]

Don't forget Lunchables. Soon you will open the package and there will be nothing in there.

[@deloreswilson1798]

Yeah,cosmetics have gotten smaller too but cost more.Ladies,this has been going on for a while.They think our brains have shrunk too.But most of us girls notice sneaky stuff like this.You can't get past the average female.Size does matter,in commodities.🤔

[@nela5250]

This BEEN happening. Consumer ignorance hurts all of us.

[@hweehoonlee6460]

Sadly, shrinkflation and inflation are both practised for food served in restaurants and hawker stalls. Increase prices and reduce portions at the same time..., kaya toast in Toastbox? Chicken rice(only chicken and rice, no cumcumber slices)? Curry puff? Breadfrom breadtalk?

[@raychuang9922]

shrinkflation and skimpflation has been going for over 20 years ago , like japan for example it's always been like that , some people just don't realize it until now

[@johannlaufenberg9798]

So after watching this video, I scrolled through Facebook and immediately saw an advertisement for Scott’s TP. It touted how their package had extra while the other brand’s packages were shrinking. This ad targeting is getting a little ridiculous as well as the fact that major companies know more about you then you do yourself.

[@izharfatima5295]

Actually, as per the definition of mass production the cost of production varies inversely to the no of commodity manufactured but the game of varying inputs changes the equation.

[@tuinabao4608]

CNA can you pls do an updated on food price inflation n shrinkflation across foodcourt, hawker n fast food, restaurant food ? There’s so many complaints in social media of the pathetic portions amidst the lack inflated food prices. It’s a double blow to consumer having to pay more n getting less at the same time 😨

[@n74wilson33]

Here in Canada the sizes are shrinking but the prices are way up.

[@samesamebutnotsame1172]

Packaging design from industrial engineering course.

[@deloreswilson1798]

Passing the blame for their unscrupulous activities.Padding their bureaucratic pockets.🤔

[@silverdamascus2023]

Much worse than shrinkflation is skimpflation, where companies change their formulas to swap their ingredients with cheaper alternatives, and make their food much worse. I knew that junk food was bad for me, but I kept eating it because it was tasty, simple as that, but then they changed their formulas and many of my favorite junk foods are no longer tasty, perfect opportunity to lose weight.

[@willsontoh7105]

tell did not response it because they want to hid the true..

[@bvdtv12345]

Good thing he went to that expert to show us the exact same products he did in the previous segment.

[@Christophylax]

Now, travel from store to store to get your best prices. But if you have to drive, add how much it costs to drive from place to place, the add it to your discounted items.. you will find you can't win.

[@Temptation666]

When i was a kid my mother could feed 3 kids and herself on one paket of minced meat. Actually we dont have to go that far back. When my oldest son was smal 30+ years ago i could feed him. my hubby and me two days on the same packet. Back then there was 500gram in each packet. Today there are between 400 and 450g in each. That mean that the familie of 4 no longer can feed the familie on one packet. So they buy 2. Now they got lots of meat and therefor eat more meat per day than we used to do. Not only do the producers and sellers earn more per kg. they also sell more. Smart. Except when they claim to help people eating less, they are in fact doing the exact opposite and making people fatter.

[@chrono9428]

You see shrinkflation in properties too.

[@deloreswilson1798]

That's okay..but the price hasn't SHRUNK!!!!!!!That's what ticks us women off.Dont cheat and rob us!!!!!🤔🤔

[@ottomantaiga8118]

But then price increase also :(

[@debwilson5236]

I love watching the programmes he does really informative and interesting this one is a shocker though,thanks to this young man I check what I buy now

[@kennethnash598]

vienna sausages used to completely fill can now they fit loosely.

[@alexanderi.yudhistira7115]

SG's version of CBC Marketplace.

[@silverdamascus2023]

Thankfully, with the sizes and portions shrinking, and the recipes getting changed to use cheaper ingredients, making these foods taste terrible, this is the perfect time to eat healthier and avoid those ultra-processed foods.

[@catzhakury]

This is happening to Malaysia too... so sad

[@IstanbulSanchestivansoon123]

This happening worldwide

[@junetan165]

May I know where can I get the tianma voucher?

[@bizneat3610]

I am recently very disappointed upon buying a tin of Julie's choc roll. It now comes in individually packed plastics, plenty of plastics! I just want a tin of densely-packed 750gm full chocolate rolls.

[@galimirnund6543]

This is capitalism... as usual the consumer takes it up the back end. It's just greed ....

[@cadgamer]

I wonder if the cola at the budget store contains the same amount of cola as the grocery store. Here in Canada, our equivalent of budget store (dollar store) tend to actually have less product in them compared to the grocery chains. This is actually intended.

[@nicolarollinson4381]

Its better to pay more for the same weight/size because if the weight is less we still pay more because we buy twice to get the same satisfaction

[@antman7673]

Reversing the trend of unhealthily huge packages of junk food is good in my opinion. But is upsetting in daily use articles. Also this enables steady pricing in all economic scenarios.

[@jessedorion9724]

there is nothing good about it! nothing! it's a scam and everyone should rise up to send them a message!

[@kellyprince2552]

This should be illegal and congress should step in, it's price gouging

[@user-oy9zy4ds9m]

The huge dimple on the bottom is the most sneaky and deceptive IMO.

[@kirakowo]

because humans feel things logarithmically, (example: a difference between 6 months and 3 months seems huge (3 month diff) but a diff between 12 years and 12 years and 3 months is no longer significant, as the number gets larger, the difference becomes less significant), companies try to play by that rule when decreasing product quantity so that we dont feel it, until it happens over a long period of time and we eventually feel the difference

[@thetreasonseason]

scheming

[@MHSFL]

The magnitude of things and it's impact does make a day and night difference at times

[@RichPoorFashion]

I've stopped purchasing Loma Linda "Big" Franks any longer because shrinkflation has turned the name of the product into a GAG. I feel like someone somewhere is wondering how much smaller they can get before they change the name.

[@anthonylemkendorf3114]

Real simple folks-Quit buying value added garbage . Learn to cook well and stop wasting your money on processed industrial food that destroy your health! Leave it for a once or twice in a year treat if you must.

[@VerhoevenSimon]

Or why you should look at the price per KG/L/...

[@MohdArif-pl3sy]

since i buy stuff based on weight not package size, shrinkflation is just another annual event.

[@deloreswilson1798]

The most expensive things and most of the public's favorites have shrunk.But like I said,the prices haven't.😗

[@pamelabrandner7532]

Let's call it what it is deceitful.

[@cilaneloke9860]

When they compare prices between brands, it's not right. Because they forgot the quality difference.

[@lingth]

500ml Bottle drinks become 475ml.. or worse Yeos Bottle drinks just went from 500ml to 375ml, Packet Soya Bean Milk in same containers now says it's 475ml..not 500ml.. Instant noodles per pack went from 80grams to 73grams..Even Snicker bars are getting shorter.

[@kehidupankanada]

Scared that we ate food and cannot finish and when someone finds out its wasted -throw then it downsize the product. Im like what?!

[@xiaosen23]

My fav potato chips too :/ lesser weight and increase price -.-''' worst

[@Christophylax]

I have known this even when I was 4. But everybody said I was stupid because I just grew bigger. Ive known for a long time now, the world is rotten and the general public is stupid, just like the upper crust believes. And I hate this world. Now that I'm old, I see no hope nor have any faith in humanity.

[@HelloHaven]

I thought they were going to say save money by not buying all this package crap that passes for food.

[@jahangiribrahimsingapore]

Wow I didn't know that....