Biden Targets “Shrinkflation” Tactics: “The American Public is Tired” of Paying Same for Less

President Joe Biden has launched a critique against snack manufacturers for engaging in “shrinkflation” by reducing product sizes while maintaining prices in a message timed with the Super Bowl festivities.

Product Shrinkage Tactics

Image by Sodel_Vladyslav via Depositphotos.com

In a Sunday video Posted on X, the president said, “Some companies are trying to pull a fast one by shrinking the products little by little and hoping you won’t notice.”

“American Public is Tired”

Illustration. Image by Depositphotos.com

He added, “Give me a break. The American public is tired of being played for suckers. I’m calling on companies to put a stop to this. Let’s make sure businesses do the right thing now.” 

No Names

Image by tastyfood via Depositphotos.com

Biden refrained from presenting any concrete solutions or policies to tackle the issue, opting not to mention any specific companies. However, the video prominently featured several brands, such as Gatorade, Doritos, Breyers, and Tostitos.

Charging Same for Less

Image by Depositphotos.com

Biden said: “Sports drinks bottles are smaller, a bag of chips has fewer chips, but they’re still charging just as much. As an ice-cream lover, what makes me the most angry is that ice-cream cartons have actually shrunk in size.”

Super Bowl Spotlight

Image by Depositphotos.com

The Super Bowl, a pinnacle event in American football, draws a massive viewership and advertising interest. This year, the Kansas City Chiefs claimed victory over the San Francisco 49ers in a thrilling conclusion.

Bypassing Tradition

Image by thenews2.com via Depositphotos.com

Biden had opted out of participating in a customary television interview, which is typically conducted with the president before the Super Bowl.

Surprise Decision

KIEV, UKRAINE - NOV 21, 2014: Vice President of USA Joe Biden during a meeting with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in Kiev
Image by palinchak via Depositphotos.com

This is the second consecutive year that the president has decided not to give the Super Bowl interview. The choice comes as a surprise, particularly given the president’s current campaign for reelection.

Inflation Deflection Tactics

Illustration. Image by Depositphotos.com

The Consumer Brands Association’s president and CEO, David Chavern, in a statement said, “We appreciate that the President has to deflect attention away from inflation that has lingered during his administration.”

Effective Solutions

Illustration. Image by Depositphotos.com

Chavern further expressed the group’s desire to collaborate with Biden on implementing effective solutions that positively impact consumers.

Ensuring Accountability

Illustration. Image by Depositphotos.com

Pennsylvania Democrat Senator Bob Casey, who unveiled a report in December highlighting the repercussions of reduced product sizes across various items, conveyed to Reuters through a statement his commitment to assessing the extent of such practices and ensuring accountability among companies.

Product Price Surge

Illustration. Image credit: Shutterstock

The report highlighted that household paper products had experienced a 34.9% increase in cost per unit compared to January 2019, with approximately 10.3% of the hike attributed to manufacturers reducing the sizes of rolls and packages. 

Snack Price Spike

Image by MikeEdwards via Depositphotos.com

It also revealed that the prices of snacks such as Oreos and Doritos had surged by 26.4% during the same timeframe, with reductions in portion sizes constituting 9.8% of the overall increase.

None Acknowledged Responsibility

Illustration. Image credit: Shutterstock

A spokesperson for Casey indicated that four major industry associations had replied to his inquiries, yet none acknowledged responsibility for price gouging or addressed his inquiries concerning pricing and transparency.

Inflation Contributing Factors

Illustration. Image by Depositphotos.com

In 2022, U.S. inflation rates peaked at over 8%, influenced by various factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic response, energy price surges due to due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the extensive government spending advocated by Biden and other nations.

Product Size Reduced

Illustration. Image credit: Shutterstock

Although inflation decreased to 3.1% in December, it’s believed that certain companies responded to escalating costs by slightly reducing product sizes—a phenomenon referred to as shrinkflation. 

Skimpflation Practice

Group Of Young Businesspeople Analyzing Graphs On White Board At Workplace
Image by Depositphotos.com

Additionally, they altered recipes to decrease the quantity of more expensive ingredients, a practice sometimes dubbed “skimpflation.”

Biden’s Price Advocacy Efforts

Belgrade, Serbia. 16th August, 2016. US Vice President Joseph 'Joe' Biden and Serbian PM Aleksandar Vucic holds a joint press conference
Image by ognjen1234 via Depositphotos.com

Since assuming office, Biden has advocated for decreased supermarket prices, urged pharmaceutical companies to lower insulin costs, pressured hotel chains to reduce fees, and sought to diversify the meat-packing industry in response to the surge in beef prices following the pandemic.

Read Next: What Really Causes Donald Trump’s Skin to be So Orange

Photo by stock_photo_world / Shutterstock.com

Former President Donald Trump’s distinctive orange skin has captivated attention, sparking curiosity about its evolution from average pale over the years:

What Really Causes Donald Trump’s Skin to be So Orange

27 Things MAGA Movement Ruined Forever for People

Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP

How the MAGA movement left its mark on individuals and disrupted certain aspects of our everyday life forever:

27 Things MAGA Movement Ruined Forever for People

Court Finally Unseals Secretive Case of Jan 6 Offender

Image by Gallagher Photography / Shutterstock.com

Samuel Lazar sentenced for Jan. 6 insurrection; previously confidential case now revealed: Court Finally Unseals Secretive Case of Jan 6 Offender

Defamation lawsuit against Kari Lake advances while people compare her to Rudy Giuliani

Image by lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Kari Lake loses First Amendment right to accuse Maricopa County recorder; Arizona Republic ponders if she’s channeling Rudy Giuliani in her sleep : Defamation lawsuit against Kari Lake advances while people compare her to Rudy Giuliani

More Democrats are flipping in a crucial swing state than Republicans

Image by palinchak via Depositphotos.com

In Pennsylvania, a significant number of registered Democrats flipping is sending an unflattering signal to President Biden: More Democrats are flipping in a crucial swing state than Republicans