Have you ever opened a pack of your favorite snack only to feel like there’s less inside than before? You’re not imagining it—it’s shrinkflation, a tactic where companies reduce product sizes while keeping prices the same or even increasing them. This subtle form of inflation allows brands to cut costs without making it obvious to consumers.
In India, many everyday grocery items—ranging from snacks and dairy products to toiletries—have quietly shrunk in size while their prices continue to rise. As a result, consumers end up paying more while getting less.
Here are 15 grocery items in India that have been affected by shrinkflation, making them costlier despite appearing the same.
1. Packaged Biscuits – Fewer Cookies, Same or Higher Price
Biscuits like Parle-G, Bourbon, and Hide & Seek have seen their pack sizes shrink over the years. While a 100g pack was once standard, many brands now sell 80g or even 75g packs at the same price.
- Parle-G, Bourbon and Hide & Seek now have fewer biscuits per pack
2. Instant Noodles – Smaller Packs, Same Price
Popular brands like Maggi, Yippee, and Top Ramen have reduced their packet sizes while keeping the prices unchanged.
Example:
- Maggi’s standard pack was 100g, now reduced to 70g
- Family packs now contain fewer servings than before
3. Potato Chips – More Air, Fewer Chips
Chips brands like Lays, Bingo, and Uncle Chipps are notorious for shrinkflation, reducing actual chip content while keeping the same pricing.
Example:
- A ₹20 pack of Lays was once 50g, now it’s around 40g
- Large packs that contained 150g now have 120g
4. Packaged Tea – Less Tea in Every Pack
Major tea brands like Tata Tea and Brooke Bond Red Label have reduced their pack sizes while maintaining or increasing their prices.
Example:
- A 500g Tata Tea pack is now 450g
- Red Label and Taj Mahal tea packs have seen similar reductions
5. Soap Bars – Thinner and Lighter Bars
Popular soaps like Lux, Dove, and Pears have quietly reduced their weight over time.
Example:
- Dove’s standard 100g bar is now 75g in some variants
- Lifebuoy and Lux bars have also shrunk by 10-15%
6. Detergent Powders – Reduced Weight, Same Price
Brands like Surf Excel, Ariel, and Tide have downsized their detergent packs while keeping prices unchanged.
Example:
- 1kg Surf Excel packs are now 750g
- Small sachets that were 100g are now 80g
7. Cooking Oil – Reduced Bottle Size
Edible oil brands like Fortune, Sundrop, and Dhara have reduced the quantity of oil in their packaging.
Example:
- 1-litre oil bottles are now 900ml
- 15-litre tins are now 14 litres
8. Ice Cream – Smaller Tubs and Bars
Ice cream brands like Kwality Walls, Amul, and Mother Dairy have reduced their pack sizes while keeping prices the same.
Example:
- 500ml ice cream tubs are now 450ml
- Small cones and bars are noticeably smaller
9. Dairy Products – Paneer and Butter Packs Shrinking
Milk-based products like paneer, butter, and cheese have been quietly downsized.
Example:
- Milk powder packs reduced from 500g to 450g
10. Chocolates – Smaller Bars for the Same Price
Chocolates like Dairy Milk, 5 Star, and KitKat have become smaller, though prices have remained the same.
Example:
- A ₹10 Dairy Milk was 22g, now it’s around 18g
- KitKat packs have fewer chocolate fingers than before
11. Soft Drinks – Reduced Bottle Size
Soft drink brands like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Thums Up have reduced bottle sizes without lowering prices.
Example:
- 2-litre bottles are now 1.75 litres
- 600ml bottles are now 500ml
12. Breakfast Cereals – Lighter Boxes, Same Price
Brands like Kellogg’s and Bagrry’s have quietly reduced pack sizes while charging the same or more.
Example:
- Corn Flakes boxes that were 500g are now 475g
- Oats and muesli packs have been downsized
13. Pickles and Jams – Smaller Jars, Higher Cost
Pickle and jam brands like Kissan, Mother’s Recipe, and Priya have reduced the amount of product in each jar.
Example:
- Kissan jam jars that were 500g are now 450g
- Pickle jars are noticeably smaller than before
14. Instant Coffee – Less Coffee in the Same Jar
Coffee brands like Nescafé and Bru have reduced the weight of their jars while keeping prices unchanged.
Example:
- Nescafé’s 200g jars are now 180g
- Small sachets that were 50g are now 45g
15. Ghee – Less Product for the Same Price
Ghee brands like Amul, Patanjali, and Gowardhan have also shrunk their pack sizes.
Example:
- 1-litre ghee packs are now 900ml
- 500ml tins have been reduced to 450ml
Conclusion – 15 Grocery Items That Have Quietly Reduced in Size
Shrinkflation is a sneaky way for companies to increase profits while keeping consumers unaware of the real cost increase. By reducing pack sizes instead of directly raising prices, brands try to avoid customer backlash. However, consumers are paying more while getting less.
How to Avoid Shrinkflation:
- Compare weights and packaging carefully before purchasing
- Check unit pricing (per gram or per ml) to find the best value
- Consider buying in bulk for better deals
- Switch to alternative brands that offer better quantity at similar prices
Have you noticed any other grocery items shrinking in size but increasing in price?
