Have you ever noticed your crisps disappearing faster than usual? Or found your favourite chocolate bars looking a bit slimmer lately? If so, you’re not imagining things – and you’re definitely not alone. In Spain, as in many places, shoppers have been quietly getting less for their money for quite some time. But a big change is coming that could finally turn the tide on this sneaky supermarket trick known as shrinkflation.
The Secret Act of Shrinking: What’s Really Been Happening on Shelves
Let’s be honest, most of us don’t walk around weighing our groceries or counting every biscuit in the pack when we get home from the store. Brands and supermarkets know this and have used it to their advantage in recent years. Instead of raising prices when costs go up, many have simply trimmed a little here and there – two fewer biscuits, a handful fewer crisps, 50 grams missing from your rice or pasta – while keeping the packaging and price almost identical.
It’s clever, if a little cheeky. The technical name for it is shrinkflation: you pay the same as before, but you’re actually getting less. Sometimes, the pack even looks bigger than ever, only to find it’s mostly filled with air.
The Spanish consumer organisation OCU has been tracking this for some time, warning that the practice has become almost routine in Spanish supermarkets. They estimate some products have shrunk by as much as 10% – and it seems to always happen just when inflation is making everything else more expensive too.
Big Changes Ahead: New Law Forces Brands to Be Honest About Shrinking Products
Now, however, it looks like this silent act of shrinking is about to become much harder to pull off. The Spanish government is on the verge of passing a brand-new consumer protection law aimed directly at tackling shrinkflation. The idea? Brands and supermarkets will be legally obliged to clearly inform shoppers when a product’s contents have been reduced, but the price remains the same.
No more sneaky downsizing without warning. If a company cuts the number of biscuits in a pack or has fewer crisps rattling around inside, they’ll have to put that information front and centre – clear, legible, and impossible to miss. The same goes for products that lose a bit of weight, or when a multi-pack suddenly has one fewer unit than before. And companies will have just 90 days from the introduction of a changed product to get their labels and packaging in order.
It’s not just about crisps and chocolate. The law will apply to all sorts of everyday goods: rice, cleaning products, ready meals, you name it. The government says the new rule is all about transparency and trust – making sure people know exactly what they’re buying and aren’t misled by clever packaging.
How Will This Actually Work and Will It Make a Difference?
So, what will it look like for you, the shopper? In practice, you should soon start finding clearer information on supermarket shelves, notifying you if a product you’ve been buying for years has changed in size, weight, or count. No more tiny print in the corner, no more guessing games at the checkout.
For brands and supermarkets, the message is clear: it’s time to play fair or face the consequences. If they fail to properly inform customers about product changes, they could face fines and a major consumer backlash.
Some in the government had previously tried to push a similar law through parliament, but it got stuck for months. Now, with the new rules moving forward at top speed, the hope is that shrinkflation will finally be brought out into the open – and Spanish shoppers can once again get a fair deal for their euros.
Why Shrinkflation Transparency Matters for Spanish Supermarket Shoppers
Why is this so important? Well, for many families, every cent counts – especially when the cost of living is already soaring. Shoppers deserve to know exactly what they’re buying and shouldn’t have to become detectives just to spot the difference between old and new packaging. The government says the move is about restoring trust and ensuring that honesty is the standard, not the exception.
So, next time you head to your local supermarket, keep an eye on those labels. With these new rules, you might just be able to spot the real deal – and maybe, just maybe, your crisps will last a little longer.
