Amendment could solve 'shrinkflation' for good, says Chichester MP
MPs are voting on an amendment today which would see our shops forced to mark where products have gotten smaller - while their prices rise
Chichester's Lib Dem MP says forcing supermarkets to make shrinkflation clear on our shelves could help solve the problem for good.
It's as MPs could today vote on the party's amendment to the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, which would make supermarkets clearly label where products have shrunk, while their prices rise.
Digestive biscuits, butter, crisps and chocolate bars were among the items found to have decreased in size while their unit cost increased, according to 2024 research by Compare the Market.
"Stealth tax for shoppers"
Jess Brown Fuller told Greatest Hits Radio price rises feel like a "stealth tax for shoppers":
"We've seen popular household staples like digestive biscuits, cocoa pops, butter and crisps all getting smaller.
"Meanwhile the prices have continued to rise and it is a way that companies are trying to combat the the cost so that they can improve their profit margins.
"But then the the burden is put on to consumers and we think that's totally unacceptable.
Amendment could make manufacturers "reconsider"
She explained that while it can help shoppers make "informed decisions" on whether they're getting "value for money", they're hoping it could make supermarkets ditch the tactic too:
"Our hope would be that by supermarkets having to advertise that a price that a product has reduced in size, it would encourage both supermarkets and those industrial manufacturers to consider before they reduce their size of product because they know that the customers will know about it."