Cookie Monster Exposes 'Shrinkflation' Trend in Snack Industry, Prompts White House Response

The beloved Cookie Monster from Sesame Street recently took to social media to express his frustration with the phenomenon known as "shrinkflation". He pointed out that his favorite cookies were shrinking in size, tapping into a growing economic trend.

Government Response

The Cookie Monster's complaint did not go unnoticed, as it prompted a response from multiple U.S. senators and even the White House. There is a high-level concern about companies reducing product sizes while maintaining the same prices. The White House, in particular, emphasized the impact on consumers, with President Biden calling on companies to put a stop to shrinkflation.

Senators' Criticism

Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown spoke out against this practice, highlighting that big corporations are reducing product sizes without reducing their prices, ultimately affecting consumers' purchasing power. Senator Brown emphasized the frustration of people in his state of Ohio and their desire to receive the full value of the products they purchase.

Shrinking Product Sizes

A report, based on Labor Department numbers, revealed that OREO Double Stuf Chocolate Sandwich Cookies shrank by 6% in size from January 2019 to October 2023, illustrating a significant reduction. This report, released by Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, also pointed out that a range of other goods became smaller in size last year, particularly household paper products. The pandemic and associated supply-chain disruptions were cited as contributing factors to this trend.