November 26, 2009 5:58 PM PST
So, this isnt really a warning or telling anyone something they have not already noticed, etc. but I got pretty frustrated this week at the grocery store. The box of pasta I used to buy was 16oz. The box of the same pasta is now only 12oz. There was no 16oz box. Canned veggies used to be 16oz, then 15-1/2oz, now they are 14-1/2oz...and there's more water than ever in the cans, so measurements on tried and trusted family recipes that call for "1 can" dont really work anymore. Cans of soup are kinda miniature anymore. And dont even get me started on the ice cream. (LOL!) Used to be that the containers were a half gallon. Now they are 1-1/2quarts. There's one brand that I know of that proudly brags "STILL A HALF GALLON". haha! Cans of tuna are much smaller than they used to be and are filled with MUCH more water than before.
I'm not saying this country couldnt do with some slimming down but food prices keep going up, and the product weight/measurement keeps decreasing. I guess it just really hit me this week when I was shopping for things that I have not bought in a long while. I usually buy my produce fresh, make my own soups, eat fresh fish, etc where I dont really come across these big differences in the packaged products. I was kinda shocked somewhat.
Oh well, rant over.
November 28, 2009 4:51 AM PST
I've noticed the changes in sizes too. ??? I've also noticed when shopping there are more choices. Just shopping for vegetables there's fresh, fresh organic, canned organics, international, non organic canned, specialty, store brands and then the packaged frozen veggies. :o
Shopping for groceries takes a lot long now. ;D
November 28, 2009 5:10 AM PST
You are definitely right about the choices! I do love the wide variety of choices in the produce dept! I've been wanting to do a pan of seasoned winter vegetables and the color and variety you can choose from is amazing. I love squahes, zuchini, crook necked, butternut, etc. You have your turnips, rutabagas, carrots, onions, mushrooms.... all seasoned and roasted. yummy.
Why am I always about the food?! LOL! Choices, yes, the choices are many and varied! ;D
November 28, 2009 7:04 AM PST
don't EVen get me started on the variety of tomato products!! I think the reason the sizes of products are shrinking is because the companies know the consumers won't protest. Which one of us is about to grow a garden and try to can 13 variety of tomatoes?! Not I!
November 29, 2009 4:48 AM PST
I noticed the size problem too, the same way as Terri. I got skimped 4oz on pasta too! Now I look as there seems to be a 1 pound box around somewhere. ;D
I'm not so sure it is done as a deceptive tactic for three reasons: 1) The stores have a price-per-oz label. 2) Grocery consumers are not your standard consumers. They rely on repeat business, and people only make that size mistake once. 3) Package sizing is more based on demand.
What gets me is when the checkout person doesn't know what the produce is. Or when they get the price-per-oz price wrong.
Yes, way more variety. I think they use it to fill shelves. Most of it must be demos (KitKat knows the real name). Go shopping late at night before the re-stockers get there and you see what people really buy. It is really only a few products per isle. I am absolutely amazed at how many different types of toothbrushes are available and the range of prices. ::)
