14 Snack Foods That Changed Size Over Time
Many popular snack foods have become smaller over the years, while prices stayed the same or increased.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Food companies often adjust product sizes in response to rising costs. This practice, sometimes called shrinkflation, allows brands to reduce quantity without changing the price. These snack foods are well-known examples of products that quietly changed size over time.
1. Toblerone
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Toblerone reduced the number of chocolate peaks in its bars in 2016 to lower costs. The change left noticeable gaps between the pieces. After widespread backlash, the company restored the original design in some markets. However, the weight of certain bars remains smaller than in the past.
2. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
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Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have gradually decreased in size over several decades. Older versions were noticeably larger and thicker. Today, the standard cups are smaller, and the company has added many mini versions to its product line. This shift has changed how people remember the original treat.
3. Kit Kat
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Kit Kat bars in some regions have shrunk in both thickness and length. Package sizes stayed the same, making the change harder to notice at first. Fans have compared older bars to newer ones and found a clear difference. The smaller size reflects cost-cutting rather than recipe change.
4. Oreos
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Oreos have gone through size changes over time, especially in the thickness of the cookies. Some international markets sell smaller Oreos than the American standard. Limited editions like Mega Stuf are marketed as larger, highlighting the shift in what the original size once was. The overall trend has been toward smaller, thinner cookies.
5. Maltesers
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Maltesers, the chocolate malt balls, have shrunk noticeably since their launch. Older versions were rounder and heavier. Today’s pieces are smaller, and the packs often contain fewer. The reduction has been gradual, making it less obvious unless compared directly.
6. Snickers
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Snickers bars have steadily decreased in weight. A standard bar that once weighed more than 60 grams now weighs closer to 50 grams in many regions. The packaging design stayed similar, making the change less obvious. Snickers has also introduced more “fun-size” versions, further changing the perception of size.
7. Doritos
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Doritos bags have contained fewer chips over time while the bag size remained similar. The chips themselves have also been reported as thinner in some batches. Consumers noticed the changes when comparing older and newer packages by weight. The snack remains popular despite downsizing.
8. Pringles
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Pringles cans have held fewer crisps than in past decades. The chips are also slightly thinner than before. Many buyers compared cans from different years and noticed weight reductions. The tall can packaging makes the change easy to overlook.
9. Mars Bar
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The Mars Bar has shrunk considerably since its introduction. Older bars were larger and more filling. Over time, the weight of the bar was reduced in multiple stages. Today’s Mars Bar is significantly smaller than what earlier generations remember.
10. Cadbury Dairy Milk
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Cadbury Dairy Milk bars have gone through weight reductions while keeping the same wrapper style. In some cases, the number of squares per bar was reduced. The change caused criticism from long-time fans. Smaller sizes have now become the standard format.
11. M&M’s Bags
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M&M’s packages have reduced in weight without changing the appearance of the bag. The pieces themselves are slightly smaller than in past decades. Companies often cite manufacturing costs for the adjustment. Many buyers only notice when comparing to older saved packaging.
12. Twinkies
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Twinkies are smaller than the versions sold in the mid-20th century. The sponge cakes were once longer and heavier. When Hostess was restructured in 2012, many consumers noticed the size reduction. The snack’s iconic status has remained despite the downsizing.
13. Hershey’s Bars
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Classic Hershey’s milk chocolate bars have been reduced in weight over the years. The number of pieces in the segmented bar has also changed. Older bars were thicker, making the reduction easy to see in side-by-side comparisons. The company has not restored the original sizing.
14. Cheetos
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Cheetos bags today hold fewer pieces than in earlier decades. The puffs themselves have also become lighter and smaller. The air-filled bag packaging makes it harder to recognize the reduction. This shrinkage has been gradual but noticeable to long-time buyers.