Smaller chocolate with a higher price? Understand what reduflation is and how it affects your pocket and health

Have you ever been to the supermarket and noticed that the packaging of a product appeared to be smaller than usual, while the price remained the same, or even more expensive? A survey released this Monday (15) pointed out that this happened with chocolate bars that, in the run-up to Easter, decreased in size, but with higher prices.

An example was seen in the prices of the Lacta bar which, last year, when the bar was 90 grams, it cost, on average, R$6.02. Now, the price has risen to R$6.31, and the weight has dropped to 80 grams. The increase in price, without considering the decrease in weight, is 4.8%. However, when comparing the value of 1 gram of this chocolate in the last 12 months, the value jumped from R$0.06 to R$0.08 — an increase of 17.90%.

This phenomenon has a name: redufflation. “This is one of those creations from the commercial business world: the combination of the words reduction and inflation. Due to inflation and the increase in production costs, companies are reducing the quantity or even the quality of the product, changing the ingredients and maintaining the same price. This way, they earn more and offer much less”, said Thiago Augusto de Freitas, President of the OAB/MG Consumer Protection Commission.

The expert explains that reduffling is legal, but the consumer must be notified. “Legally speaking, this practice is permitted, as long as some very clear rules are observed. The first concerns clearly stating, in large, bold letters, the reduction. Brazilian law also requires that, for at least six months, information about the reduction be on the packaging,” he said.

Thiago also highlights a legislative change that requires all products displayed in supermarkets to have a price basis. “How much is a kilo? This can make it easier to understand what the real price we are paying for that product is,” he explained.

Alert for your pocket and your health

For the expert, redufflation is extremely dangerous, not only because it affects the pocket. “It is obvious that you will pay more for less, in other words, you are injured twice. But the big problem is not the financial issue. Several products are being changed. For example, powdered milk, they started saying that it is a lacto compound,” he said.

It looks like milk, it’s white like milk and the packaging is exactly the same, but… it’s not milk. It’s whey. “Due to the same size, the same packaging, the same images, the consumer, when they pick up that product, thinks they are getting powdered milk, but they are getting the dairy compound. This can also systematically harm your health”, he warns.

Therefore, Thiago says about the importance of consumer awareness. “We need to publicize, tell, show what has happened. Often, legislation provides for A, B or C and even punishes them. However, the company spends six months or a year selling a product, and it can earn much more money than the fine. Even that, sometimes, is calculated,” he said.