The cost of food across the country has been skyrocketing—from eggs to butter to even the iconic dollar pizza slice. Naturally, seeing the price tag of pantry staples double gets people mad. Even Cardi B has taken to social media to complain about inflation.
To avoid sticker shock, companies often use a sneakier method to adjust for rising costs. Instead of selling the same amount of food at a higher price, brands simply reduce the amount of product in the packaging. This phenomenon, known as shrinkflation, can be found industry wide (even Trader Joe’s is guilty of it).
It’s often difficult to spot shrinkflation when the product shrinks by a fraction of an ounce. But at McDonald’s the difference is glaringly obvious. TikTok user @ahlaysia_ posted a video sharing a recent experience at the fast food chain. And we were absolutely floored.
In the video, she says she stopped by McDonald’s for a post-work snack of iced tea, fries, and a bag of apples. Beyond the amount of fries seeming lower than usual, she claims the portion size of the apples had shrunk significantly. She wasn’t joking: the sealed bag only included two measly apple slices.
She goes on to describe the phenomenon as the “McDonald’s Index,” which she believes indicates an impending economic downturn. “Is this what the people during the Great Depression were feeling?” she says in the video.
Other TikTok users flooded the comment section to express their shock and share similar experiences. One user wrote, “nah there used to be 6 or 7 in there.”
Another commented, “YOU ARE NOT IMAGINING IT. Have to make new price tags for new ounces. Every new shipment more brands are shrinking on product. EVERY WEEK.”
One user expressed frustration with the shrinkflation trend. “I just love how even in a recession corporations will find a way to make maximum profits,” they said. “We still pay full price and they give us half a product.”
At best, this apple fiasco is a result of a packaging error. But it could potentially be a sign of something more ominous. Either way, we're just going to cut our own apples at home.
