I saw what they are doing!

[GrimJack]

I just noticed that those 1 pound tubs of margarine/butter are now 15 oz instead of 16 and it is all of them not just one brand. I know this is happening across all packaging but for some reason I just never expected to see it in my margarine. I have tracked it in my whiskey/whisky, and seen it in dry goods.

It seems almost like telling lies.

sorta

[krantcents]

This is nothing new! I noticed first with candy bars quite a few years ago. Increasing pricing has deminished returns, so they reduced the packaging size. I find it underhanded though.

[Gary Barzel]

As mentioned above this is nothing new. I think the reason why they are able to get away with it without consumers making a fuss out of it is because they do it with such a small amount that a large percent of consumers won't even notice it.

[bjl584]

This has been going on for a while now. Candy bars are smaller than they used to be. So are boxes of cereal and bags of potato chips.

[disneysteve]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Just raise the damn price! Stop making the packages smaller to artificially keep the price low. It is deceptive marketing in all cases but it is particularly annoying with items that tend to involve measuring when you use them. For example, I like to make homemade soup. The recipe I use calls for 4 cups of broth. That used to mean two 16oz cans. Except now those 16oz cans are 14oz cans so I come up 4oz short. I either have to add some water to make up the difference or open a third can, take out 4oz and freeze the rest, hoping to remember to use it the next time.

"Half gallon" cartons of orange juice are now 59oz, not 64oz.
"Half gallon" tubs of ice cream aren't 64oz anymore either.
5lb bags of sugar are now a rarity as 4lb bags have become the norm.

[Mr Nice Guy]

what is the difference between whiskey and whisky?

[MrPolarZero]

Maybe just a trick and they only use that on a few random products.. I did not noticed that as well.

[disneysteve]

Maybe just a trick and they only use that on a few random products

Not at all. It is quite widespread and has been happening for several years.

They even try to put a positive spin on it:

"Still only $1.99"

or

"Now only 100 calories per serving"

[maat55]

Quarter pounders have shrunk since the 80's, I know it.

[bjl584]

It's interesting. Packaging is getting smaller, but Americans keep getting fatter. So, are we less active? Or, are we ordering and buying two of something when we used to get just one?

[disneysteve]

It's interesting. Packaging is getting smaller, but Americans keep getting fatter. So, are we less active? Or, are we ordering and buying two of something when we used to get just one?

Although some food packages are getting smaller, portions are getting larger, especially in restaurants. The amount of food served in most restaurants is obscene. Pick up an order of Chinese food from your local take out place and there's a good chance the meal contains well over 2,000 calories, more than you should consume all day.

People are eating more than ever - on average 200-300 calories per day more than they did 20 years ago. That equates to a weight gain of about 20 pounds per year at least.

There are various reasons for this. Food has gotten cheaper and cheaper. As a percentage of income, we now spend a fraction of what we used to on food. We also eat a much higher percentage of our meals outside of the home where food is far less healthy, portions are far bigger and packed with far more calories. We also drink a lot more soda and other sugary beverages (iced tea, sports drinks, energy drinks) which are little more than sugar and water.

If we really want to impact the obesity epidemic, one thing that needs to happen is that restaurants need to go back to serving reasonable portions. People tend to eat what they are given. Give them less and they'll eat less. And, of course, people need to stop eating out so much and start cooking at home from scratch again.

[DebbieL]

I always notice this when I go to the US - restaurant meals are enormous, and cheaper than they are in Canada. I can't believe the amount of food that Americans expect on a plate.

As for the shrinking products, this irritates me too. They must think we're stupid or something. I would rather they just be honest about what they're doing (which is really just raising the price). The next thing they always do after they figure you're used to the new sizing is raise the price for that too.

[disneysteve]

I always notice this when I go to the US - restaurant meals are enormous, and cheaper than they are in Canada. I can't believe the amount of food that Americans expect on a plate.

I've noticed just the opposite in reverse when we've traveled to Canada. Here in the US, when we dine out if we get a soda (we usually just drink water) we'll get one and the 3 of us will share it. In Canada, no can do. The sodas are small - just enough for one person, not enough to share 3 ways. I even recall getting a Coke at a vending machine. Rather than a 20oz bottle like most machines here or even a 12oz can, it was the smaller can - about 8oz (or whatever the metric equivalent is).

It really isn't tough to figure out why so many Americans are obese. It drives me nuts every time I read articles about the hundreds of millions of dollars being wasted on "obesity research." We already know the cause of obesity and we already know how to "cure" it. Spend those millions solving a real disease.