MP Williams warns of Grocery Shrinkage: The phenomenon where Canadians are paying increases on foods that are shrinking in size

Bay of Quinte MP Ryan Williams says Canadians pay some of the most punishing prices on
food in all of the world but he says worst of all we are paying increases on food that is
actually shrinking in size. He says, “grocery shrinkage is the phenomenon where in the past
2 years Canadians are paying 17% more for food that is decreasing in size.” MP Williams
says ”In essence, people are getting less food for the same amount of money. This trend is
becoming more prevalent in the grocery industry and its consequences ripple through our
households.”
MP Williams says many Canadians are not even aware that they are being hit by shrinkage
at the grocery store. MP Williams says “As you walk through the aisles of your food store,
you might notice that your favourite products do not seem as big as they used to be. A
cereal box, a bag of chips or a carton of ice cream all appear slightly smaller. Manufacturers
are reducing the quantity of the product.” MP Williams says there are many examples of
this. He says “A year ago, a jar of Nutella was 400 grams and now it is 375 grams, which is
a 6.3% reduction. Chewy Granola bars used to be 6 bars, now it is 5 bars, that’s a 23%
reduction. Campbell’s Chunky soup was 540 millilitres and now it is 515 millilitre’s, which is
a 5% reduction. Kraft Singles used to be 24 slices, now it is 22, an almost 9% reduction and
when you are making lunch or dinner for your family that is a big deal.”
The Bay of Quinte MP blames grocery shrinkage on the increased costs to farmers, trucking,
and manufacturing brought on by the carbon tax. It is also caused by the inflationary
spending of this government which has inflation rising because of government spending.
MP Williams states there is also something else significant that is happening at the grocery
store. He says it is the implementation of a hidden tax for consumers. He says “HST is
hidden at the bottom of your receipt and is 13% for some items, and 5% for others, but not
identified on your grocery bill. The simple fact is groceries are supposed to be tax free, but
now we are seeing tax implemented on everyday items, and consumers aren’t even made
aware of exactly what they are paying tax on”. MP Williams says items that go into lunch
bags and have tax on them include granola bars, pre-prepared fresh pineapple and
cantaloupe, or prepared salads. He states “A snack tax was originally implemented and
meant to go on chips, chocolate bars, and pop, but that tax has now expanded to many
foods that families are buying. The government is making money on a hidden tax on
everyday items, and that’s just wrong.”