By Lee West

July 24, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this

Purchased several packages of minature candies, (Musketeers, Snikers and Butterfingers), recently. I noticed that the package was the original size but the pieces were reduced about 1/4 inch each. There are still 8 pieces in each package but you get about 2 inches less of candy at the same price.

By AmIgreedy

July 24, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this

I remember the snickers bar being MUCH bigger when I was a kid. Granted that was 25 years ago. But I know those bars lasted more than 3 bites as a young’un.

By MADMOMMY

July 24, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

I think it is just the way they are trying to keep things in line and “trick” the consumer into thinking that prices are holding steady on their favorite brands. I for one had no idea about ice cream or candy sizes since I haven’t purchased any in a few years now. As for other items, I really don’t notice all that much since I mostly buy all fresh foods and it is the packaged foods that are shrinking in size. If you want the best value for your money, you need to go to a farmers market where you buy fresh in bulk out of bins. That is one of the ways I keep costs down along with using coupons for the items that I use, not just what is on sale.
Maybe it is time we started looking at serving sizes and started to eat on those guidelines to see how much we really are getting for our money.

By LD

July 24, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this

Most food packaging is over-sized anyway. It’s a way for manufacturers to add additional weight to a package. If you took out the quantity of food and actually weighed it, you would be surprised at the amount of product compared to the weight listed.

By amy

July 24, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this

ALL brands of yogurt have shrunk.
It all goes back to one thing, higher fuel prices, lead to higher transportation costs, so to avoid increasing the costs on the foods, the manufacturers just “shrink” the sizes.

By new mom

July 24, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

Now THIS is a serious topic. (I’m not kidding, we don’t mess around when it comes to ice cream around this house….) In addition to Blue Bell, the Publix brand ice cream has NOT shrunk. And there’s not much better than the Publix premium chocolate almond…or their new chocolate trinity. Yum!

By Critic

July 24, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

Publix Black Jack Cherry Frozen Yogurt. You have to buy 2 because once you have a taste, you will want to eat the whole thing in one sitting.

By Elizabeth Lee

July 24, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this

New Mom, it’s good to know the store brands of ice cream haven’t shrunk yet.

By FCM

July 25, 2008 6:49 AM | Link to this

Publix is the only brand I can find with the Choc Almond flavor…wait for 2 for sales or BOGO. Then you get more bang for the buck. However I did notice when Bryers was on sale last week (3 for $10) that the pkg seemed smaller…I did not have anything to compare it too…I had eaten the old ones.

The ‘junk’ manufacturers that shrink the pkg (or even the yogurt folks) are shooting themselves in the foot. These items are usually a ‘luxury’ not a staple. I may hate that milk is $4.29!!!!!! a gallon, but I will still make sure I can buy it, which means chips, soda, beer, lemonade, ice cream, etc goes to the bottom of the grocery list and becomes an occasional item. These folks need to show you get MORE for your dollar to bring back sales.

By Elizabeth Lee

July 25, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this

FCM, you can get milk cheaper. I’ve been meaning to blog about this.

Trader Joe’s sells a gallon for $3.79.

A gallon at Harry’s and Whole Foods is still $3.69.

Like Publix, all of those stores offer milk from cows not treated with rBST, the artificial growth hormone. Kroger, last time i checked, was also at $4.29 but offered it for $3.99 with the Kroger card. (It’s also rBST free.)

Anyone else see any better deals out there? We buy a lot of milk at my house, too.

By jennifer

July 25, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

Sams Club is $3.29 (or at least it was the last time i bought milk there). I got milk at Walmart last week for $2.98!

If I could only get gas that cheap!

By AceyMan

July 25, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this

I’m glad to hear, but not surprised, that Publix house brands are still a full half-gallon. Their Premium line (ice cream/frozen yogurt/sherbets) are some of the best I’ve ever had.

I recently moved to a “non-Publix” state and I miss my Publix frozen goodies tremendously, but I’m planning on a sub-zero feast next time I’m back in Hotlanta.

They are THAT good!

By FCM

July 25, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this

Thanks Elizabeth and Jennifer for info on the milk. I am a huge Trader Joe’s fan, does the milk taste different than Publix but much? I tried the Walmart milk and we did notice a taste difference, the kids refused to finish the gallon—I cooked lots of things with milk that week.

Jennifer—keep hoping for the really gas! The Quick Trip had gas for 3.92 and the Chevron for 4.09 go figure! I went to QT.

By Karla

July 25, 2008 6:48 PM | Link to this

I’m really bummed about the Publix brand yogurt. Besides being a smaller size (8 oz. to 6 oz.) it seems that they are putting less into the 6 oz. cups too. The yogurt seems to be averaging an inch below the rim of the 6 oz. cup. Used to be that the yogurt was only about a quarter of an inch from the top (when it was an 8 oz. container.) It seems like they actually went down to a 4 ounce portion.

Frusions have gone from 10 oz. to 7 oz. and now cost more too. And now they force you to buy a 4 pack instead of buying them individually.

I’m so sick of this shrinking… Just keep it the same and save all the package changes and just charge more. Don’t shrink the package then fill the containers even less and then charge more. Maybe they should start that with gas. Instead of a gallon you get it by ounces and then maybe it won’t seem so expensive. Or they could do all the size and price changing just to make it so confusing when you try to figure out the price per gallon.
Why do I always feel like I am being cheated from both ends? Because I am!

By Reg L

July 25, 2008 11:38 PM | Link to this

Guess what? it’s not just stuff in the store. i just had a tatste for a McDonald’s Filet o’ fish…happens about once or twice a year. So I went to McD’s to order one…fresh..and then i drove 5 minutes to my home. The little fish sandwich is a fraction of what it used to be. I couldn’t believe the “smallish” size of the bun. It tasted awful and wasn’t even warm. I shook my head, mad at myself for getting taken. Then I noticed that the fries were skinnier..really they are!!! I worked at McD’s as a teen, so I know what their products used to be like. I always use experiences like this as a reminder as to why I don’t frequent McD’s. The rare times I do break down to eat it, the food is always a big disapointment. A real filet of fish used to be big, hot and the bun was steamed. It would actually fill you up. The thing I had today was a sheer disgrace…tiny filet, tiny, hard bun..bland. The fries can double as a toothpick..they almost look like shoestrings. When did that happen, and did I miss the blog? Alas, children of today will never know the joys of what “real” Mcdonald’s food tastes like. Yes, I have a life, but simple things like this bother me. From the cardboard box to the cardboard food, Mc’D’s is a big disapointment to me.

By Brett

July 26, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

This discussion is therapeutic. I used to be a faithul Breyer’s fan but quit buying when they went to 1.75 quarts. Then, when I finally gave in for a few months and started buying again, they reduced it again to 1.50 quarts. This is insulting. How stupid do they thing we are? Either WalMart or Kroger had it for something like $2.29, which was okay but last night Publix had it for well over $5.00. Blue Bell on the other hand was on sale for $3.99. I hope they keep the half gallon size.

By Hilcat

July 26, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

I’ve noticed the shrinking packages for years. Some toilet paper rolls are shorter, too - betcha didn’t notice that one! And Ride-a-Roni was much bigger (again, the box size hasn’t changed)

But I’m frustrated by an opposite problem. Ground turkey now comes in a 20-oz pkg. Every recipe calls for a pound (16 oz) of meat - what the heck am I supposed to do with the extra??? And what’s the point??? I freeze the extra until I have several 4-oz pieces then use them, but how annoying is that!

By Frusen Gladje

July 26, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

Haagen-Dazs is still a pint. Stop buying crap-brands. Or, if you have any sense and a modicum of skill — make your own.

By KC

July 26, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

Aldi’s sells a gallon of milk for $2.79, which is where I always get mine.

Also, all the ice cream companies shrinking packages have just lost me as a customer…..

By Arbie

July 26, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this

Another shrinkage noted…….Cottonelle toilet paper just got about 1/2” narrower.

Wonder if Vaseline has shrunk too?

We’re all gonna need more of it.

By dahreese

July 26, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this

“Manufacturers often will reduce package sizes in times of rising food costs rather than raise the cost to shoppers.”

Either you jest or else you failed math, or maybe you’re just trying to fill up the space allotted for your column. A smaller content in a smaller carton for the same price is still an increase in price.

By Had it

July 27, 2008 1:32 AM | Link to this

Deer Park water (I think that’s the one) now comes in what they have the nerve to call and “Eco Shape” bottle. the circumference of the bottle is smaller toward the middle. This, of course, means that there’s less water in the bottle.

“Uses less plastic!” shouts the label. Yeah, the label also tells me how many ounces/milliliters of water are in there and it’s LESS that it was before, but the same price. As if we’re so stupid as to think that they’ve somehow defied the laws of physics and managed to put the same volume of water in a smaller bottle.

Just make the container smaller and hope that we don’t notice, though you know that we will. You don’t have to insult us too.

Yet another reason to just buy a Brita pitcher and re-usable water bottles.

By Jen

July 27, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this

So, we’re paying the same price for less product? And that’s ok?? WTH…. I noticed all of the things mentioned, to me if they are lowing the amount you receive the price should be lowered too. Oh, milk at our Sam’s in Macon is $3.84 a gallon. I do not like the new containers, but the price is better than $4.29 @ kroger/publix!!

By Bill

July 27, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

Northern Quilted is about the only bathroom tissue still in the 4.5” size. Charmin, and all the others, lost me when they went to the 4.27” or smaller size which, excuse the expression, looks “chitty” hanging there in the roll-rack.

By Meg

July 27, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this

We bought an ice cream maker and a yogurt maker, we’ll be making our own from now on. The way we make it, it’s not necessarily cheaper, but there’s more of it and it tastes much better. Ice cream and yogurt sweetened with honey is the best ever!

By SmartShopper

July 27, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

Just another marketing ploy to dupe uneducated shoppers into spending the same price for less product. That’s why you always need to look at the price per ‘unit’. That will always give you an apples to apples comparison. The only glitch in doing that is when the store has two similar products and the price per unit is different (ie one product shows the price per oz and the other shows price per lb). But that just requires some extra math.

By justme

July 27, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

i bake and have noticed that a 5 lb bag of sugar is now 4 lbs, wth??? still same price, sometimes you can still find 5 lb bags right along side the 4s, watch out!

By Jamie G.

July 27, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this

One more reason to love Blue Bell. The Peaches ‘n’ Cream…mmmm….

By disgusted

July 27, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this

Feminine products have, for the last few years, decreased their package count while increasing their prices.

By D

July 27, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this

Is it just me, or does it seem like there’s more water and less tuna in the Bumblebee cans?

By Jim Berkes

July 27, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this

Dial soap is about 2/3 the size it use to be.

By FCM

July 27, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this

Well since Charmin is 8.79 for 12 rolls at Publix (I think I go that right)…I only get it on sale. I thought the pkg had decreased but couldn’t pin point it….we don’t like Northern. The majority female house voted to stick w/Charmin. Another one that is deceptively decreasing: Laundry detergent…My 72 load bottle has a nifty little button spout…the bottle @ Kroger said $9.99 48-64 loads…the one I like (w/Downey) is 48 loads and is about the size my old Dawn liquid soap (which also shrunk) was about 3 years ago…However the pkg says they are both 2x stronger. Whatever, I still need clean clothes and dishes. Electrolsol shrunk too.

Disgusted, I agree Fem products decreased pkg. I get them 3/$7 which is really like 60 pieces for $7…fortunately that is one of those items you can stock up on.

I did take some tips from the blog though…I spent $75 at Kroger —including meat, milk ($3.99) and school supplies. Not much on the veggie side of things though. Publix I spent $60 mostly on cereals, pasta, bread ($0.55 coupon made it $1.54) and other BOGO itmes. However, if I supplement this stuff with the veggies and such in the fridge I should be able to go about 1-1.5 weeks for 3 meals a day. I let you know in a week how I did…plus like I said some that was not food money.

By Deirdre

July 27, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this

Hello everyone I live in far southwest KY but this problem is universal. If you love near a Save a Lot grocery you can still get sugar in 5lb bags. Beware though the potato bags have shrunk from 10lbs to 8lbs and from 20 to 18lbs. Also all of the liquid detergent bottles have been reduced in size,plus the price has increased.

By SAM

July 28, 2008 6:41 AM | Link to this

Sounds like pretty soon, for most products we will be buying the package. The % cost of the packaging is rising significantly as the packages reduce in size.

By Gag Me With A Spoon

July 28, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this

The best ice cream is the homemade ice cream which I make with my own ice cream maker in the comfort of my kitchen and serve to my perfect family. I make as much as I want to and don’t have to worry about shrinking carton sizes. I also only use the freshest all-natural ingredients.

By George Costanza

July 28, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this

I hate shrinkage. And - regarding Hilcat’s post above on 7/26: Is Ride-a-Roni the newest amusement park ride at Six Flags Over Sicily?

By Grammaw

July 28, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

I thought I was getting a good deal when I bought a bag of sugar thinking it was a 5-lb. bag for a decent price. I discovered, much to my chagrin, that the 5-lb. bags are now 4-lbs. I’m appalled! And it’s actually costing me MORE per unit.

By Steve

July 30, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

Have you noticed how FAT people are today? When I was a kid in the 1970s, I don’t remember many fat adults. Now, EVERYONE is bloated.

So, shrinking the portion sizes and product sizes in most cases is a good thing. I’m single and the half gallon of ice cream usually gets nasty before I finish it anyone.

Smaller portions, people, is a good thing.

By ConyersMom

July 30, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

I have to say it isn’t just food products. I noticed a couple of months ago the packaging of the shampoo and conditioner I use was getting smaller, but the price was going up. I decided then I would buy from the warehouse stores in order to get my monies worth (and it lasts a lot longer). I haven’t bought shampoo in two months and still have plenty left. Also an article I read yesterday said diapers were going to go up and stores had delayed passing increasing prices on to the consumer. Apparently they haven’t bought diapers recently because the price has already gone up.

By ConyersMom

July 30, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

In response to the milk prices…not sure if you have a BJs Warehouse in your area, but I bought milk this past weekend for $2.61 - that was whole milk, but their milk prices have dropped significantly in the past month. I have paid as low as $2.41 in the past few weeks.

By Charisse

August 9, 2008 10:24 PM | Link to this

Has anyone out there noticed that it isn’t just food packages that have shrunk? Clothing sizes have also shrunk in the past year. What used to be a size Medium is now a Large. I used to be able to wear a pair of Large shorts last year but now I can’t even get them up my legs. I went to the doctor recently and have actually LOST weight. So I know weight isn’t the problem. Yesterday I went to a local department store chain and spoke to a sales clerk about my recent experiences in their store as well as several others. She said other curstomers have been complaining about the same thing and it is quite possible the manufacturers are shrinking their clothes to save money and gas in shipping. Everyone I have spoken to has been having the same problem when buying clothes. I don’t think the economy is entirely at fault here for slow sales.