Incredible Shrinking Graham Crackers 
 
Jul. 24, 2009 8:22 pm 
Updated: Sep. 14, 2009 2:49 pm
I recently bought some graham crackers to make a cheesecake recipe. I don't normally buy graham crackers but my daughters seemed to enjoy them with meals or as snacks, so I decided to purchase some more. I picked up a box of Nabisco Honey Maid Graham Crackers at Costco, and I opened up the new box on Thursday.

I instantly noticed something different. The crackers smelt slimmer, skinnier than the other ones. I thought I was imagining things but still couldn't shake the feeling that they had shrunk. Later, I went and got some more and I was positive that they were smaller. Sure enough, I compared them with some crackers I had left over from the first batch and they were indeed smaller. Not by much I'll grant you but smaller nonetheless.

I kind of felt jipped since they didn't mention anything on the box (I'm guessing "New Compact Size!" wouldn't sell much) and the nutritional value was the same on both the older and newer boxes.

I wondered though if I was making a big deal about a little sliver of graham crackers. I thought it was a big deal at first but then I wondered if I should just be happy with the price of the crackers I got at Costco and consider myself still better off.

I dont know, I just don't like paying the same price for something and getting less for it. But maybe I'm just overreacting. I've been known to do that, after all.
Big difference?
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Stacked grahams.
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Comments
Lynda 
Jul. 24, 2009 11:10 pm
Contact Nabisco, you might get a free box from them.
 
Jul. 25, 2009 7:21 am
I think it was probably just a mistake in the batch or something. If you are unhappy with them I would definitely call Nabisco. I'm sure they will do something to make you happy. =)
 
Jul. 25, 2009 9:59 am
Oh no, it was no mistake. I noticed this about 5-6 months ago and was so outraged by it that I swore off Nabisco. I too was needing some graham crackers for a crust and had a brand new box of Nabisco, opened it saw what I saw and wondered if all grahams were somehow shrinking in size. Next trip to the market, I bought a 'store brand', sure enough, same size as the originals, and taste wise, they were as good if not better than Nabisco. Look at the package, I don't think the Nabisco is a full pound size any longer either.
 
Jul. 25, 2009 3:55 pm
i'm sure nabisco is not the only company doing this....shrinking their packaging and charging the same price....have you checked out the ice cream cartons lately? or coffee? same thing. it's crazy.
 
Jul. 26, 2009 12:31 am
No, you're not seeing things. A few years back Del Monte made their canned products (fruits and vegetables) smaller by about 2 ounces and charged more per can! Other companies followed suit.
 
Jul. 26, 2009 1:22 pm
I was about to say the same thing re: the ice cream cartons, we treat ourselves to ice cream some nights and my husband went to get some out of fridge and noticed the container was much smaller, but you could hardly tell by the way it was sloped. Also some of name brand chips are less. Our local news had a segment re: many many items are less and some of them are making the containers so you cannont tell unless you notice the amount written on it. Seems like they are cheating us in a sneaky way.
 
Jul. 27, 2009 4:52 am
Besides gypping us out of money, IT really messes up recipes when you're used to a standard size and then they reduce it by 2 ounces. Dannon did that with their small yogurt and I stopped buying their brand I was so mad!
 
Jul. 27, 2009 1:08 pm
Yes, this has been going on for years. Now the dog food brand 20# bag we buy is 17# and originally the same price but the price has now also increased. I remember when THE ice cream company did that, some one, in the news I think, made the comment that it was either a smaller container for the same price or the same size container for a higher price. What part of that statemet makes any sense? I agree alafan, they are cheating us.
 
Jul. 27, 2009 4:22 pm
The half gallon of ice cream is now 48 oz., a pound of coffee is now 12-13 oz. a bag of mini marshmallows is now 12 oz. (down from 16) Triscuits and Wheat Thins are now 10 oz (down from 16) and not a single item has decreased in price despite the significant decrease in product.
 
cash 
Aug. 14, 2009 7:55 pm
I just got a box where the crackers are the same size, but the stacks are each 30% shorter. There is air in the box now where there was crackers before. I am bummed. There are probably regional differences in how people are being introduced to the rip-off smaller quantities.
 
jewels 
Sep. 14, 2009 2:49 pm
My son just opened a new box of Nabisco Premium saltines and said, "Hey! This sleeve is missing like 6 or 8 crackers!" I checked the other 3 sleeves and sure enough, they are all sealed but missing the top 6 or 8 crackers. The wt. of the box says 1 lb. I checked it against the weight of the old box which also says 1 lb. Of course, the old box is empty so I can't compare actual weights. Makes me want to rush out to the store to buy another box to compare with. I feel ripped off! and has anyone noticed the smaller sized boxes for other products that have slightly less in them but sell for the same price as the previously bigger boxes??
 
 
 
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LB
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My mom was a master chef... okay, she was a stay-at-home mom but her food was magnificent and nothing will ever top that for me. But I got so used to her cooking that when I branched out on my own I knew how to make nothing. It's taken me quite some time to realize that I love to cook and to create edible dishes. I've been married for nine-plus years and have just recently dived head-first into cooking. So far, so good! And if you need any tips (not that I'd have much to offer) you can e-mail me at lbueno99 at hotmail dot com.
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