Chante Hohip13 March 2024 | 7:37
Shrinkflation: It's sneaky, but the stuff we buy is getting smaller, and crappier
"It’s not the same product that it used to be," explains consumer journalist Wendy Knowler.
Picture: Eyewitness News
John Perlman speaks to consumer journalist Wendy Knowler.
Listen to the discussion below.
The price of groceries increases but the quantities seem to be getting less.
This is known as 'shrinkflation', or 'skimpflation', explains Knowler.
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“Manufacturers cut down on the percentage of premium ingredients. It's called the same thing but it’s not the same product that it used to be.”
- Wendy Knowler, consumer journalist
Manufacturers who struggle to put up prices are responding with 'shrinkflation'.
“[In 1990] a standard loaf of bread was 850 grams then, for just over R1, now a standard loaf is 700 grams, quite a significant shrinkage, and it costs R20.”
- Wendy Knowler, consumer journalist
“Just look at the bread. It tells the story of skrinkflation and normal inflation.”
- Wendy Knowler, consumer journalist
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.