Nowadays, every trip to the shop seems to come with some sort of a nasty surprise. Perhaps your favourite products are shrinking while their price tags remain as bold as ever, or maybe you’re finding that your crisps seem to be full of more air than potatoes. Either way, “shrinkflation” is a super frustrating trend, and it’s making shoppers feel short-changed. We can’t do much about that, but let’s at least have a good moan about the following shrinkflation examples that you should avoid falling victim to.
Chocolate Bars
Starting things off with a particularly devastating example, popular British chocolate bars have long since been becoming smaller. Not so long ago, these products felt like a satisfying treat to enjoy once in a while, yet now, they seem to disappear in just a few bites. Frustratingly, the prices have stayed stubbornly high, usually rising, which just doesn’t seem very fair.
Crisps
As we mentioned in the introduction, open a packet of crisps these days, and you’re likely going to be greeted by more air than snacks. Brands claim this ‘cushioning’ is to prevent breakage, but come on–that’s just nonsense. Like, who cares whether the crisps are broken if there’s hardly any in there in the first place!?
Breakfast Cereals
Sure, modern cereal boxes might look the same on the outside, but check inside, and you’ll notice that there’s a lot less going on. This is affecting just about every brand–even supermarkets’ own brands–leaving breakfast feeling a little less plentiful these days, even despite the prices climbing.
Toothpaste
As with cereal, toothpaste tubes may look the same as they did ten years ago, but toothpaste brands have started shaving off a few grams here and there. It’s not immediately noticeable until you realise you’re buying it more often. Ultimately, it’s making dental hygiene more expensive, and Brits are really feeling the squeeze.
Biscuits
We never thought things would come to this, but favourite biscuit brands in the UK are quietly reducing the number of biscuits in a pack. Outrageously, tea drinkers have noticed the difference as their biscuit stash runs out sooner, despite the price staying firmly the same. Even the biscuits themselves seem to be getting smaller!
Ice Cream
Ice cream tubs, especially premium brands, have greatly reduced their products in size while maintaining, if not raising, their hefty price tags. A tub that not so long ago felt like a generous treat now seems to vanish after a few scoops. Sure, our waistlines are happy about this, but our wallets certainly aren’t.
Loaves of Bread
You might not have noticed this, but check the information on the back of a shop-bought bread loaf, and we bet you’ll discover that it has missing slices. Yes, really–it’s a sneaky way to offer less while keeping prices the same, leaving families reaching for an extra loaf sooner than expected.
Soap Bars
This might seem ridiculous, but bars of soap have quietly shrunk as of late, leaving consumers with significantly less lather for their money. Despite bars once lasting for weeks upon end, they now seem to melt away in a few days–especially in households that rely on them heavily.
Coffee Jars
Yes, instant coffee jars may look unchanged, but upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that they hold fewer grams than they used to. It’s a really subtle shift, but over time it means fewer mornings per jar and a bigger dent in your budget. Don’t get us started on the price, which never seems to stop increasing!
Toilet Roll
We’ve got a lot of complaints when it comes to toilet paper brands. First, they were caught reducing the number of sheets per roll, and then, they started making sheets thinner! It’s an outrageous double whammy of disappointment, and you’ve no doubt found yourself restocking more often and noticing a dip in quality.
Bags of Pasta
We’re sorry to say it, but even staples like pasta and rice are no longer immune to shrinkflation. Shockingly, some brands have cut their bag sizes from 1kg to 750g while maintaining their original price, leaving shoppers with less for their midweek meals. There’s something about that that just doesn’t feel right with us.
Shampoo
Have you noticed that shampoo and conditioner bottles have shrunk slightly in volume recently? Despite this, you’ve probably also noticed that their prices have held steady. That’s right–the change is subtle enough to miss, yet it ultimately becomes clear when you find yourself replenishing your bathroom stock more often.
Butter
Just about every butter block in the shops, including both big and little brands, has seen their weight trimmed down significantly–often from 250g to 225g. They’ll try to argue that this is about health, but ultimately, the smaller portions mean less spread for the same cost, putting a strain on toast lovers everywhere.
Ready Meals
Back in the old days, frozen and chilled ready meals were still just as unhealthy today, but at least they were a filling treat to enjoy once in a while. Not anymore, though–they’ve become yet another target for shrinkflation, with portions subtly reducing in the name of “health”. Realistically, nobody is buying ready meals to be healthy, so it just doesn’t seem justifiable.
Fizzy Drinks
Anyone who buys soft drink bottles regularly has probably noticed that almost every brand, both big and small, has had their sizes trimmed down over time. For example, a 2-litre bottle may now be 1.75 litres, yet the price remains nearly identical, not to mention the implications of the sugar tax!
Cheese
Blocks of cheese, a classic staple for many households, have been quietly reduced in size in a way that seems excessive and unfair. Seriously–you’ve not just been upping your cheese intake; you’ve been buying it more often because the blocs are quite literally shrinking!
Cleaning Products
Last but not least, laundry detergents, washing-up liquids, and cleaning sprays are increasingly offering smaller bottles for the same price. Yes, even cleaning products have been affected by shrinkflation, and it’s a squeeze on shoppers who find they’re buying these essentials more frequently. That’s just not on.
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