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President Joe Biden has publicly denounced the practice of shrinkflation, urging snack companies to cease reducing product sizes while maintaining prices, labeling it as “a rip-off.”

In a message shared on social media platform X, Biden highlighted that companies subtly reduce product sizes, hoping consumers will not notice. He said, “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.”

The Consumer Brands Association, through its President and CEO David Chavern, responded to Biden’s remarks by expressing a desire to collaborate on actionable solutions that benefit consumers, while also pointing out the need to divert attention from persistent inflation issues during Biden’s term.

PepsiCo and Unilever, companies behind brands like Gatorade, Doritos, Tostitos, and Breyers ice cream, have yet to comment on the President’s statement. The discourse on shrinkflation also includes concerns raised by Senator Bob Casey, who has been investigating the extent of the practice and its impact on consumer goods, from toilet paper to snacks like Oreos and Doritos.

Digging Deeper:
Senator Casey’s report revealed significant price-per-unit increases in household and snack items since January 2019, attributing a portion of these hikes to reduced product sizes. Despite industry associations’ responses to Casey’s inquiries, none have acknowledged responsibility for price increases or provided clarity on pricing and transparency.