EVERY food product is shrinking!!!

[kandb]

I just can't believe how small every food product in the grocery store is getting. Today, I picked up a box of kelloggs frosted flakes (Yeah, I'm a real health nut ) and the box was so damn small. I looked at the ounces, and it was 10 ounces. I shook the box and thought to myself "I can probably get around 3 bowls of cereal out of here". It's really getting out of control!

 

[sissy_ib]

I just can't believe how small every food product in the grocery store is getting. Today, I picked up a box of kelloggs frosted flakes (Yeah, I'm a real health nut ) and the box was so damn small. I looked at the ounces, and it was 10 ounces. I shook the box and thought to myself "I can probably get around 3 bowls of cereal out of here". It's really getting out of control!

This only matters if it was the same price that a larger size box used to cost.

 

[rcraw45425]

This only matters if it was the same price that a larger size box used to cost.

Sadly, in most cases, it is the same price.

 

[DOOM1001]

I've noticed it,on tons of products,so I'm either just not buying them or making changes to my purchases.For example you mention cereal,at Publix I'm either only buying them when they're buy one get one free or for example they might be selling brand name Raisin Bran for like $3.89 for like an 18oz box but just a week or two ago they had the Publix brand Raisin Bran for like $1.99 and the box was like 28oz,not only that but the Publix brand had more raisins in it than I've ever seen.WalMart also has huge boxes of cereal for around $3.If the scrimping and cutting back these companies are doing is working for them I'm not the ones helping them,I like to get my money's worth.

 

[clintswifeymomof4]

This is why we don't buy many processed foods at all and I started cooking a lot more using fresh ingredients. Not only did I go from 217 lbs to 128 lbs, but we have saved a ton of $!

Breakfast for me usually consists of oatmeal (canister old fashioned or steel cut so no fancy overpriced packaged stuff) and just this morning I made egg "muffins" for the first time (eggs, sharp cheddar, green onion, mushroom, and spinach all mixed and baked in a muffin tin). My kids complained at first when we started making the switch from processed to "real" but once I was able to hone into things they liked (homemade cinnamon rolls from scratch- not the healthiest- but they LOVE them), they got on board. I still buy Cap'n Crunch during the school year but since we've been off this summer (I'm a teacher), I've had a box go stale bc I'm making other things (have the extra time).

Cake mixes are another culprit... Most (except Duncan Hines signature line) have gone from 18.25 oz to between 15 and 16 oz without a decrease in price. Again- something I now make from scratch bc it's too easy not to and I can get my money's worth.

At least I know a dozen eggs is a dozen eggs, a pound of apples is still a pound of apples, etc... those greedy "food" companies are getting less of my money these days!

 

[disneysnowflake]

I was making my menus and grocery list with my sales flyers yesterday. Peanut Butter was on sale for $2.50. It's 16.3 oz when it used to be 18oz. I just love those 10oz boxes of cereal. The size of the cardboard packaging seems to have stayed the same though. The price of ground beef in our area is outrageous, too, seeing it's like the leftover junk they can't use for other cuts of meat to sell.
Such is life, I suppose.

 

[cjnix29]

This is why we don't buy many processed foods at all and I started cooking a lot more using fresh ingredients. Not only did I go from 217 lbs to 128 lbs, but we have saved a ton of $!

Breakfast for me usually consists of oatmeal (canister old fashioned or steel cut so no fancy overpriced packaged stuff) and just this morning I made egg "muffins" for the first time (eggs, sharp cheddar, green onion, mushroom, and spinach all mixed and baked in a muffin tin). My kids complained at first when we started making the switch from processed to "real" but once I was able to hone into things they liked (homemade cinnamon rolls from scratch- not the healthiest- but they LOVE them), they got on board. I still buy Cap'n Crunch during the school year but since we've been off this summer (I'm a teacher), I've had a box go stale bc I'm making other things (have the extra time).

Cake mixes are another culprit... Most (except Duncan Hines signature line) have gone from 18.25 oz to between 15 and 16 oz without a decrease in price. Again- something I now make from scratch bc it's too easy not to and I can get my money's worth.

At least I know a dozen eggs is a dozen eggs, a pound of apples is still a pound of apples, etc... those greedy "food" companies are getting less of my money these days!

This sounds like a plan for our family!! Are there some tips you could give?! Would love the homemade cinnamon roll recipe! And if you have some other good ones? We are trying less processed too, but I don't seem to be as well organized. We joined a crop share, although this was probably not a good year to do it! Unfortunately, my DH works for a food company, so we don't get completely away from it.

But I have definitely noticed shrinking products. My favorite.....if you look at the serving size on the package and then how many servings are supposed to be in it....if you measure it out, you don't get the same number of servings!

 

[mrodgers]

I was making my menus and grocery list with my sales flyers yesterday. Peanut Butter was on sale for $2.50. It's 16.3 oz when it used to be 18oz.

Every now and then I look at the grocery store flyers. Peanut butter was on sale this week for us as well, on sale for $4.99.

We can't afford a grocery store. All sale items are higher than Walmart. We also have no coupons available.

Everyone on the coupon threads talk a lot about pasta because it always seems to be on sale. With coupons it works out. We don't get coupons, so the 10 for $10 doesn't work well for us. We buy generic for $0.89 rather than name brand for $1 on sale.

10 oz. boxes of cereal for name brand stuff isn't new. They've been around for a long time, many many years along with the 1.75 qt. ice cream over a half gallon of ice cream.

 

[mcorbo]

Every now and then I look at the grocery store flyers. Peanut butter was on sale this week for us as well, on sale for $4.99.

We can't afford a grocery store. All sale items are higher than Walmart. We also have no coupons available.

Everyone on the coupon threads talk a lot about pasta because it always seems to be on sale. With coupons it works out. We don't get coupons, so the 10 for $10 doesn't work well for us. We buy generic for $0.89 rather than name brand for $1 on sale.

10 oz. boxes of cereal for name brand stuff isn't new. They've been around for a long time, many many years along with the 1.75 qt. ice cream over a half gallon of ice cream.

Most ice creams are now 1.5qt instead of the 1.75!

 

[mrspaha]

Sadly, it's not just one manufacturer that's doing it. Otherwise, we could boycott that one. I wonder how much more it costs the manufacturers to recalibrate everything for this smaller packaging. Fresh OJ which used to be 1/2 gallon containers has been 59oz for quite a while now too. Canned tuna is another one. Before you know it, when we run to the store for a "gallon of milk", we'll be getting 3/4 of a gallon.

 

[worm761]

I have very little processed food in my house. I started doing it because of health issues. I just can't see how, if I make soup it is only good for a few days but when the store makes it, it is good for months on end. Same with bread. Buy a loaf of bread and bake a loaf. Watch which one gets moldy in only a few days. It isn't the store bought. And high fructose syrup is in just everything these days. While I agree with the commercials that it is OK in moderation. If it is in everything then you are eating it in moderation. It only takes a few more minutes to bake brownies from scratch or biscuits. It is cheaper too. I look at the cost of these things in the store and just shake my head.

I make just about every convenience food my son wants. Poptarts, pizzas, breakfast burritos, pancakes, waffles, hashbrowns. If they can make it in the store then I can make it at home with healthier ingredients and for less money.

 

[pat fan]

I just can't see how, if I make soup it is only good for a few days but when the store makes it, it is good for months on end. Same with bread. Buy a loaf of bread and bake a loaf. Watch which one gets moldy in only a few days.

It's all those things in the ingredients list that you can't pronounce!

I keep some processed stuff on hand for emergencies, but I do try and cook/bake mostly from scratch. It's amazing how much money you save when you don't buy all the "crap". Although, I really haven't seen a TON of savings. When they keep jacking up the prices and shrinking products, it just boggles your mind. When my kids were at home I would buy groceries for around $100 a week and get a trunkful of bags. Now, it's just me and DH and I spend almost the same amount and get 4 bags. He just commented last trip that it gets quicker and quicker to shop. I am buying less food (less people plus buying less processed stuff) yet I spend the same amount. Very discouraging

 

[pampam]

I like to buy large bags of dry kidney beans. I soak them overnight, and then cook them in water till they are soft. I check them every half hour or so. When they are cooked, I drain them, and put them in freezer bags. I put about 1 1/2 cups in each bag. I freeze them, and then when a recipe calls for a can of kidney beans, I pull a can out of the freezer. They are just as good as the canned beans, and quite a bit cheaper, without the preservatives that canned beans have. I use them in bean salad, chili, soup or where ever kidney beans are needed.

 

[Muushka]

I like to buy large bags of dry kidney beans. I soak them overnight, and then cook them in water till they are soft. I check them every half hour or so. When they are cooked, I drain them, and put them in freezer bags. I put about 1 1/2 cups in each bag. I freeze them, and then when a recipe calls for a can of kidney beans, I pull a can out of the freezer. They are just as good as the canned beans, and quite a bit cheaper, without the preservatives that canned beans have. I use them in bean salad, chili, soup or where ever kidney beans are needed.

Being a lover of the bean, great tip!

Another sneaky thing they do (besides lowering the quantity of product) is:

My husband loves the Chicken Alfredo made with the Chicken Helper people.

I remember using 1/2 cup of milk and 2 cups of water. Now it's the other way, 2 cups of milk. Big difference.

 

[worm761]

I like to buy large bags of dry kidney beans. I soak them overnight, and then cook them in water till they are soft. I check them every half hour or so. When they are cooked, I drain them, and put them in freezer bags. I put about 1 1/2 cups in each bag. I freeze them, and then when a recipe calls for a can of kidney beans, I pull a can out of the freezer. They are just as good as the canned beans, and quite a bit cheaper, without the preservatives that canned beans have. I use them in bean salad, chili, soup or where ever kidney beans are needed.

I love this tip! I always want to use dried beans but didn't know how much makes a can. Now I will just soak the whole bag and just portion it out.

Does this work with all beans? I sort of don't like too many. I like black beans though. I am getting better.

 

[Jeff_G]

As government "prints" more money, what you can purchase with the dollar goes down. So instead of seeing prices skyrocket the manufacturer provide a smaller quantity of product for the same price.

Globally oil is pegged to the dollar, all other countries must exchange their currency into dollars before they can purchase oil. Russia and China and pushing on OPEC to accept their currencies directly for oil exchange. Once that happens watch out!

We use oil for so many things, it impacts every aspect of what you purchase at the grocery store. How far does you food travel before it gets to you?

I think we are approaching a time when it will be cheaper to purchase more locally grown / sourced food products.

 

[ceecee]

I bought some crackers last week at Trader Joe's and the box felt empty! When I got home I saw the old box had 8.5 oz and the one I bought had 6 oz!!!

 

[disneychic2]

I just made a dessert over the weekend that called for graham crackers. I used to have an entire sleeve of crackers left after making the dessert. Now I have 4 whole crackers left! I've been aware of the "shrinkage" for some time, but it really is getting ridiculous. I do not buy a lot of processed food and try to use fresh ingredients whenever possible. It's easier in the spring and summer, not so easy in the winter.

 

[twojay]

I saw last week that instead of 2 liters, soda is coming in 1.5 L bottles for the same price as 2 L. I don't know how long that's been going on because I rarely purchase soda, and I wouldn't have seen that if I hadn't been at the store with DH.

 

[scbelleatheart]

I saw last week that instead of 2 liters, soda is coming in 1.5 L bottles for the same price as 2 L. I don't know how long that's been going on because I rarely purchase soda, and I wouldn't have seen that if I hadn't been at the store with DH.

I noticed this last week! Same price, smaller size. Told DH to watch for it. The bottles are deceiving. They look the same size.