Is something fishy with tuna prices?

Pippa Hudson speaks to Wendy Knowler about tuna prices which seem to have consumers thinking that something fishy is happening with the prices - but it's just shrinkflation... listen below.

Consumers are asking: 

“Why is the shredded tins of tuna nothing but mush and the can of chunks is twice the price.”

 CapeTalk Listener

Knowler says, there’s a good reason for that - it's shrinkflation (when items gets smaller/less but prices increase).

How do you avoid shrinkflation and get value for your money?

It's all about checking and comparing unit prices and reading labels...

"Anything that's premium, there's a great chance it's going to be in a smaller pack."

Wendy Knowler, Consumer Talk - CapeTalk

For example, canned tuna is regulated by the National Regulator of Compulsory Standards, so the descriptions on the tin are anything but random.

Shredded or flaked tuna is the most inferior, hence the price, says Knowler.

The best quality canned tuna is “solid”, which must, according to the regulations, turn out in a single portion. The chunks are somewhere in between those two in terms of tuna quality, adds Knowler.

Shredded, chunks or solid?

So, go for the solid if the price is right, but always check the tin weights first - sometimes the price of the tuna chunks and solid tuna tins is the same, but the solid tin is far lighter, so you’re getting less for your spend. 

Don't let tin labels off the hook...

Pick n Pay was recently selling No Name shredded tuna for R25 and both chunks tins and solid tuna tins for R30. If you were just looking at the price, you’d think the solid tuna - the highest quality - was the better deal, but comparing the weight of the tins reveals the true price… the shredded and chunks tins is 170g and the solid tuna comes in a can weighing just 119g. 

Biggest takeaway: things might seem fishy when you don't compare unit prices with the food label.