METRIC CONVERSION RIP-OFFS

There is evidence that metric conversion is the primary cause of "downsizing", whereby packaged foods and goods are reduced during conversion from pounds/grams to pints/millilitres. Research shows that companies use metric to make reductions of up to 10% or 15% with no comparable decreases in price.

Co-op
Whereas the Co-op's four-pint containers were priced 83p (September 2000), their two-litre containers cost 79p. While the two-litre price tag is 4p less, the price in real terms of the Co-op's metric milk is 8% higher.

Campbell's
In 1988, labels on cans of stew (Irish, Beef, Chicken) and Ready Meals (Chilli Con Carni, Beef Curry, Chicken Curry) were changed from 15oz to 425g. During 1990-1992, all cans were reduced to 392g (13.8oz). Four varieties of Meatballs were trimmed by half an ounce in 1988 when 15oz cans were replaced with 410g cans. Prices remained the same.

Heinz
Between 1993 and 1995, eight varieties of Baked Beans (Curried, Burger Bites, Italian, Hot Dogs, Mini Sausages, Pork Sausages and Weight Watchers) were reduced from 225g (previously 8oz/227g) to 205g. In addition, 425g cans (15oz) of Spaghetti reduced to 400g (14.1oz) in 1995.

Crosse & Blackwell
Pasta & Sausages and Pasta Bolognaise cans fell from 15oz to 405g (14.3oz). Prices remained the same. On converting Waistline Tartare Sauce from 9oz to 210g, Crosse & Blackwell cut prices by 5%. However, since 210g is the equivalent of only 7.4oz, real prices rose by 13%.

Colmans
In 1990, Colmans English Mustard was reduced from 2oz (57g) to 50g.

Quaker Oats
Reduced seven varieties of Sutherland Spread from 2oz to 53g (minus 6%) while raising the price.

Thorntons
57g (2oz) bags of chocolage buttons costing 59p were replaced with 40g bags costing 45p - a real price increase of 8%.

Lyons Tetley
Reduced milk and plain chocolate Polka Dots from 4oz to 100g with no price decrease.

Cadbury's
Roses and Spice chocolates were sold in boxes of identical height, but only the former contained ½lb; Spice chocolates contained 205g, 10% less, even though sold at the same price.

Pringles have cut the weight by 15%, but kept the pack, the familiar cardboard tube, the same size. The ploy is apparently being used to sneak in a substantial price rise. Details were uncovered by the Which? consumer group, which says they are part of a retail industry tactic to downsize the weight or products but keep prices the same.

This has resulted in, for example, soap bars and sausages shrinking in size, cans containing fewer baked beans than they used to, fewer chunks of chocolate in a bar and smaller packs of mints. The weight contents in the 'original' Pringles was 200g, however the new version of the popular snack is 170g.

The price of both packs was £1.38 in the Morrisons supermarket chain. That works out at 0.69p per gram in the original, but a higher 0.81p a gram in new version. The change represents a secret price rise of 17.4%. Which? also highlighted a recent example where the Ovaltine jar shrank with the result that the price per gram of the popular bedtime drink rose.

On this occasion the 400g jar, costing £1.95, was discontinued. It was replaced by a 300g jar priced at £1.69. The net effect was a price rise per gram of about 15%. In another case, Palmolive Naturals soap bars shrank from 125g to 100g, a drop of 20% and a change to the size and shape of spice jars used by Bart gave the false impression shoppers were getting more for their money.

New jars of Bart 'Blade Mace' are double the height of the originals, however the weight of the contents is exactly the same. The gap in the jar is taken up by a polythene bag. The down-sizing tactic has been used by some of the country's most iconic brands.

As far back as 1993, Heinz reduced the size of a standard can of baked beans from 450g to 420g, while the price remained the same. In 1995, Nestle slimmed down the Yorkie from seven chunks to six, cutting the weight from 65g to 52g. While in the same year, the company cut the number of Rolos in a pack from 11 to 10, while keeping the price the same.

In 1998, it was revealed that packs of Walkers crisps, sold in multi-packs in supermarkets, had come down to 25g. They had started out at 28g in 1996 and they fell to 27g in 1997. Metrication has been used as an excuse by some manufacturers to fiddle with food packs.

Traditionally, a pack of sausages weighed a pound or 447 grams. However, many suppliers have introduced slimmer sausages and cut the pack size to 400 grams. In the past, a bag of Fox's Glacier mints would have weighed in at 8ounces. But in 2002 it was cut to 200g, which is closer to 7 ounces.

As far back as 1993, Mattesons reduced 16 varieties of sliced meat from 4 oz(113g) to 100g. No comparable price reductions were made. Food manufacturers insist the changes are made to avoid the need to raise the headline prices of their products, which is even more unpopular with shoppers.

Sometimes, as with the Palmolive soap bars, manufacturers argue customers find the new smaller size 'more convenient'. Manufacturers also stress that retailers, rather than themselves, set prices. This suggests supermarkets may be among the biggest beneficiaries of the tactic. (Source: Mail on Sunday, Oct/06)