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Original poster

Worst/ craziest examples of shrinkflation?

131 replies

BluebellBlueballs · 15/02/2023 07:37

Manufacturers, we are not stupid. We know you are making everything smaller to look like we are paying the same or only a small increase in price for the same goods.

But have boxes of chocolate eggs ever come on anything less than six in a Bix? Not in all of time. Until yesterday when I got a box of oreo eggs which now has FIVE in the box.

And Toblerones are supposed to be a row of lovely peaks. Now the peaks have big fat valleys between them.

Anyone have any other examples of this?

OP posts:
Original poster
BluebellBlueballs · 17/02/2023 12:09

I've noticed that bog roll costs loads but is being marketed as extra thick. I bet they start off extra thick but in a years time we'll be paying the same price (or more) for normal thickness. I can see them reducing them by a few sheets every time.

They must think the customers are extra thick

OP posts:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 17/02/2023 14:02

I’m so pissed of at tuna. It used to come in time of 190g. Then it shrunk to 160g.

Biggest l can get today is 145g. That’s just pathetic.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 17/02/2023 14:04

Pissed off….

HelloBunny · 17/02/2023 14:12

Bog roll. As above, they’re all really thin now, unless you’re paying for the “premium” stuff. You could get through half a roll, on a big job!

Brendabigbaps · 17/02/2023 14:19

IwasToldThereWouldBeCake · 15/02/2023 11:36

Is there less in roll on Mitchum deodorant? It seems to run dry so quickly, like it has evaporated.

I can’t even find it these days, been looking for a couple of weeks in various places and no luck at all.

im finding the same as you with body shop face cream tho, it lasts nowhere near as long

Brendabigbaps · 17/02/2023 14:27

Warburtons pitta breads, used to be 5 in a pack (I remember because it was a stupid number and annoying) today I bought some and it’s now 4.

Surely2023IsTheYearForMyRainbowBaby · 20/02/2023 15:36

ifonly4 · 15/02/2023 10:46

On top of Nescafe reducing the amount of sachets and no sprinkles, they've gone up from £1.69 to £2.10.

They ain't had sprinkles in them for years!!

Doesnthurttodouchebefore · 25/02/2023 07:23

Bought some sausages recently and Tesco substituted for chipolatas! Was really annoyed. Same thing happened with normal bananas and mini bananas about a month ago. They must have thought I wouldn’t notice, but you’re right. OP, once you look it’s obvious

Giggorata · 25/02/2023 10:00

Magnum lollies!

I noticed a couple of years ago that they had shrunk to about half the size.

I bought one from the shop near the office and apparently went on about it for the rest of the afternoon. I was so indignant, it was so blatant.

daisychain01 · 25/02/2023 10:21

The one food that weirdly seems to have escaped the CoL crisis is bananas @Doesnthurttodouchebefore

I marvel at 70p when I weigh a hand of 5 large bananas. Let's face it the manufacturers can't bugger about with bananas Grin

Original poster
BluebellBlueballs · 25/02/2023 13:58

daisychain01 · 25/02/2023 10:21

The one food that weirdly seems to have escaped the CoL crisis is bananas @Doesnthurttodouchebefore

I marvel at 70p when I weigh a hand of 5 large bananas. Let's face it the manufacturers can't bugger about with bananas Grin

Oh I'm sure they can

Funsize/ lunchbox size will be rebranded as normal size
Normal size will be rebranded.as large

Large as extra-large
Wonkey ones as orangutan fingers etc

OP posts:
Doesnthurttodouchebefore · 25/02/2023 21:13

daisychain01 · 25/02/2023 10:21

The one food that weirdly seems to have escaped the CoL crisis is bananas @Doesnthurttodouchebefore

I marvel at 70p when I weigh a hand of 5 large bananas. Let's face it the manufacturers can't bugger about with bananas Grin

That sounds cheap! Great work. I’m concerned the ones we buy have been trimmed down or the bunches have got smaller. Dp agrees.
do you think it’s worth taking it further…?

catfunk · 25/02/2023 21:16

Lidl moist loo roll sheets are now about half the size they used to be !

messybutfun · 25/02/2023 23:44

A while ago M&S started selling miniature versions of cottage pie etc. It’s like three spoonfulls. Even a toddler would eat more.

Fizbosshoes · 26/02/2023 00:01

years ago (maybe 15 or 20) cadbury released a "diet" chocolate bar that was 99 calories. It was basically the same recipe as Dairy Milk but 20g ...or whatever weight made it 99kcal. Per 100g it had the same kcal but they were charging the same for a much smaller bar....so it's been going on for decades!
Or when crisps snacks have "only 99 cals" or whatever - we'll duh because the bag is 80% air!

Fizbosshoes · 26/02/2023 00:02

messybutfun · 25/02/2023 23:44

A while ago M&S started selling miniature versions of cottage pie etc. It’s like three spoonfulls. Even a toddler would eat more.

Most of MN would share that with their family of 4! 🤣

AdelineAurelia · 26/02/2023 00:05

Yes, it would last them 3 days.

Mummyoftwo91 · 26/02/2023 00:10

Tesco pack of 3 peppers is now 2

Saracen · 28/02/2023 02:26

I know it's against the spirit of the thread but... there are a few things (very few!) which I am happy to buy in a shrunken version, because they used to be too big for me and some would be wasted.

DD can now get through a loaf of gluten-free bread without the faff of freezing half of it. I like the option of a small piece of fish from the chippy so I don't make myself ill trying to eat a "normal" one. Only one person in our family likes baked beans, and she can't eat many, so the wee tins are just right for us - it used to be ridiculous feeding half of every tin to the chickens! I imagine that people who live alone are glad that they can sometimes buy one item rather than absolutely everything coming in a twin pack.

isthismylifenow · 28/02/2023 05:19

Saracen · 28/02/2023 02:26

I know it's against the spirit of the thread but... there are a few things (very few!) which I am happy to buy in a shrunken version, because they used to be too big for me and some would be wasted.

DD can now get through a loaf of gluten-free bread without the faff of freezing half of it. I like the option of a small piece of fish from the chippy so I don't make myself ill trying to eat a "normal" one. Only one person in our family likes baked beans, and she can't eat many, so the wee tins are just right for us - it used to be ridiculous feeding half of every tin to the chickens! I imagine that people who live alone are glad that they can sometimes buy one item rather than absolutely everything coming in a twin pack.

Smaller portions or sizes have always been available though.

It now that these are becoming the new average size.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 28/02/2023 06:23

I used to wait ages for a bus and then three would come along, now's its only two. Sad

WeirdPookah · 12/03/2023 13:16

In Lidl this morning, the 3 pack of sweet peppers is now 2 for the same price of £1.65, the bags where still the same size, just twisted up at one end!

Moonlightsonatas · 13/03/2023 10:39

Saracen · 28/02/2023 02:26

I know it's against the spirit of the thread but... there are a few things (very few!) which I am happy to buy in a shrunken version, because they used to be too big for me and some would be wasted.

DD can now get through a loaf of gluten-free bread without the faff of freezing half of it. I like the option of a small piece of fish from the chippy so I don't make myself ill trying to eat a "normal" one. Only one person in our family likes baked beans, and she can't eat many, so the wee tins are just right for us - it used to be ridiculous feeding half of every tin to the chickens! I imagine that people who live alone are glad that they can sometimes buy one item rather than absolutely everything coming in a twin pack.

I don’t think the issue is just the shrinking though, it’s charging the same price as the old original size.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 13/03/2023 14:49

I like the option of a small piece of fish from the chippy so I don't make myself ill trying to eat a "normal" one.

Nope never felt like this. Is this MN competitive under eating again?

wonkylegs · 13/03/2023 14:55

I was away recently and just needed to grab some emergency sanitary towels and did a double take when I saw how many (few) there were in a pack
A quick Google made me realise I wasn't imagining things

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/period-poverty-fear-sneaky-price-28249044.amp

My period hasn't got shorter because of inflation (even though that would be nifty) so it's not like I can 'use less'