Kellogg's ridiculed for drastic efforts to hide shrinkflation: 'Just laughing at us'

Kellogg's is resorting to 'deceptive' ways to distract shoppers from its shrinkflation tactics.

A photograph shared connected Reddit highlights really nan marque has made its family-size Special K container taller - while really reducing nan magnitude of cereal inside. 

Shrinkflation is erstwhile products shrink successful size aliases amount while nan value remains nan aforesaid aliases moreover increases. 

'As a user you'd deliberation to drawback nan "larger" box, only nan recognize it's 1.3 oz less,' a personification wrote connected Reddit alongside nan photo. 'Oh, and of course, it's nan aforesaid price!' 

The smaller container contains 16.9 oz, nan image shows, while nan taller container contains 15.6 oz. 

While nan nonstop value of nan 16.9 oz container is not shown successful nan photo, nan 15.6 oz container costs $5.49 successful nan unidentified store.

Outraged consumers commented connected on nan Reddit thread, accusing Kellogg's of 'blazing nan way arsenic 1 of nan world worst offenders of this.'

'They're conscionable laughing astatine america now,' 1 personification wrote. 

'I tin ideate nan committee room meetings. "They will autumn for it",' they added. 

'So scummy, connected galore levels,' different wrote. 

A disappointment user besides chimed in: 'That's what makes maine truthful mad! It's intentionally deceptive!'

Another photograph connected Reddit besides shows a akin size alteration pinch Kellogg's Raisin Bran - wherever nan taller packaging contains 27.1 oz, and nan smaller container contains 34.2 oz.

'Shame connected you Mr. Kellogg,' nan personification wrote alongside nan photo.

It comes aft caller findings released earlier this period laid bare nan existent grade of 'shrinkflation' successful nan US, and conscionable really overmuch Americans are being shortchanged.  

Of almost 100 mundane products analyzed by LendingTree, it recovered a 3rd had shrunk successful nan past 5 years. 

The cost, meanwhile, had stayed nan aforesaid aliases increased. 

'People are already disappointment that things costs more,' said Matt Schulz, LendingTree main in installments analyst. 

'Shrinkflation conscionable adds reproach to injury. It each adds up to a batch of Americans emotion squeezed each period to spend nan basal things they can't do without.'

Household insubstantial products, which includes toilet insubstantial and insubstantial towels, saw nan biggest alteration successful size complete nan clip period, according to nan study, pinch 60 percent reducing their expanse count.

After family insubstantial products, meal items were nan astir apt to shrink, LendingTree found. 

LendingTree researchers compared Walmart prices and merchandise sizes from 2019 and 2020 to August and September 2024 to find retired which items had changed nan most.

As good arsenic nan mostly shrinking successful size, it besides recovered that only 2 items had fallen successful price over nan clip period.   

Schulz said businesses for illustration shrinking products complete raising prices, arsenic they cognize that customers do not for illustration it erstwhile this happens.

'Shrinkflation is simply a sneaky small measurement astir that,' he said. 

'Rather than bumping up nan value of something, businesses make nan merchandise smaller while keeping nan value nan same. 

'If done smartly, customers whitethorn not moreover notice. However, nan problem is that erstwhile they do, it leaves nan customer pinch a bad sensation successful their rima because it feels truthful deceptive.' 

It comes arsenic 2 Democratic lawmakers earlier this period accused Coca Cola, PepsiCo and General Mills of profiteering disconnected consumers done shrinkflation. 

Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Madeleine Dean wrote to nan CEOs of nan companies accusing them of subtly decreasing nan size of cereals and sodas sold successful stores.

'Unfortunately, this value gouging is simply a wide problem, pinch firm profits driving complete half of inflation,' they said.