Is Shrinkflation Affecting Your Grocery Shopping in Canada?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the phenomenon of shrinkflation in grocery shopping in Canada, particularly focusing on products like tuna, chips, and other packaged goods. Participants share personal experiences and observations regarding the reduction in product quantities while prices remain the same or increase, raising concerns about quality and transparency in food packaging.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express frustration over the reduced quantity of tuna in cans, noting that older cans contained more product for a lower price.
  • There are claims that the tuna is now packed with more liquid and less fish, leading to dissatisfaction with the product's quality.
  • Several participants mention that this practice of shrinkflation is not new and has been observed for many years across various products.
  • Concerns are raised about the deceptive nature of packaging, where products appear full but contain more air or liquid than actual product.
  • Some participants share anecdotes about finding foreign objects in food products, highlighting concerns over quality control.
  • There is a discussion about the cyclical nature of product sizing, where companies gradually reduce sizes and then introduce larger packages at higher prices.
  • One participant notes that the issue of shrinkflation is particularly problematic for students on a budget, who rely on affordable food options.
  • Some participants express a desire for transparency in packaging and pricing, emphasizing that they would prefer to pay more for consistent quantities.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that shrinkflation is a significant issue affecting grocery shopping, but there are varying opinions on the extent and implications of the practice. Some believe it is a widespread issue across many companies, while others question whether it is specific to certain brands.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference historical trends in shrinkflation, suggesting that it has been a tactic used during inflationary periods, but do not provide a consensus on its current prevalence or impact.

  • #31


GeorginaS said:
No offense intended, Evo, but I'd be astounded at that run of poor quality control discoveries if it weren't you. You poor thing. You really ought to sue all of them to pay for all of your broken bones in your other misadventures. Like standing and walking.:wink:
This was all with a 2 year period. Everything happens to me. :frown:
 
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  • #32
My QC problems have been sporadic. I remember finding a huge intact green grasshopper in my string beans in a rare school lunch (must have been a blizzard that day, so my mother gave me 10-15 cents for lunch instead of making me walk home). I liked lots of vegetables, but not the USDA surplus canned string beans, so I swapped my beans for some other food with a girl across the table from me. She made loud, excited noises when she noticed the 'hopper, and generally livened up lunch as everybody else started inspecting their food. I should have grabbed the 'hopper and eaten it, but she ran and dumped her tray before the thought came to me.
 
  • #33
Coke and Pepsi seem to have changed for the worse in this area as well, I think they have changed the sugar to corn syrup or something like it. Tastes like crap. I guess they did not think anyone would notice. Heinze ketchup seems different as well, sweeter?
 
  • #34
I don't think Hienz is as bad ad Hunt's ketchup, or it wasn't. Hunt's now uses two types of corn syrup and is so sweet it's sickening. I bought a bottle and it was like tomato pancake syrup, I had throw it away.
 
  • #35
Evo said:
I don't think Hienz is as bad ad Hunt's ketchup, or it wasn't. Hunt's now uses two types of corn syrup and is so sweet it's sickening. I bought a bottle and it was like tomato pancake syrup, I had throw it away.
Um - you need to do a cooking/food show. Greg could do the online support for it. :biggrin:

You could do brand comparisons, in addition to good 'ol home cooking, gourmet cooking, restaurant reviews, and foreign/ethnic cooking in exotic places like Papete, Bora Bora, . . . .
 
  • #36
glondor said:
Coke and Pepsi seem to have changed for the worse in this area as well, I think they have changed the sugar to corn syrup or something like it. Tastes like crap. I guess they did not think anyone would notice.

I think they replaced the sugar with corn syrup about 20 or 25 years ago. :rolleyes: When's the last time you had a soda?

Heinze ketchup seems different as well, sweeter?
I don't eat enough ketchup to notice. My primary use for ketchup is to make bbq sauce, which gets sugar added anyway, so I probably wouldn't notice a slight change in sweetness.
 
  • #37
I drink it all the time, It seems to have changed just in this last year. Maybe it is new in Canada?
 

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