(Toledo News Now) - It seemed that manufacturers were done - for a while - making their products smaller. After all, how much smaller can a jar of spaghetti sauce be? But new products are starting to shrink.
We're all familiar with products shrinking in the grocery store. But for 2014, the trend is accelerating. Higher costs, combined with shoppers refusing to pay more, means even more items are getting smaller this year.
Viewer Kathi O'Connell is so mad about shrinking toilet paper she sent in a picture of herself and two rolls of toilet tissue: an old one and a much smaller new one.
Turns out a number of toilet tissue brands are shrinking their rolls this year. Many shoppers are complaining about it, finding the new smaller rolls rattling on the wall hanger.
Several brands are following the lead of P&G's Charmin, which reduced its size last fall, angering viewer Donna Cann.
"I decided to get out the tape measure and see how much difference there is," Cann said. "And there's a half inch difference in the rolls now."
P&G says the exact reduction is only 3/8 of an inch, but says it is stronger.
Doesn't That Stink?
But from the "doesn't that stink" file comes the recent surge in product downsizing, after a lull of a couple years.
Mouseprint says the latest examples include:
-Ritz Crackers: 2 ounces smaller.
-JIF peanut butter: 2 ounces smaller, though the jar appears to be the exact same size.
-Lays Potato Chips: A half ounce less, which you can wash down with...
-Ocean Spray Cocktail Juice: Now 4 ounces smaller.
-Just this past month, Betty Crocker Brownie Mix, reduced from 19 to 18.3 ounces. That's for the "family size." Perhaps they think the average family is shrinking.
At some point, the product shrinking will have to stop, or shoppers will simply refuse to buy toilet paper that's sized for a Barbie Doll.
Keep your eyes open and consider brands that haven't shrunk, so you don't waste your money.
