A Mars bar found while clearing out an old house has drawn attention in the United Kingdom.
The expiration date printed on the wrapper was 1991. According to reports, the bar was much heavier than the current standard product, reigniting debate over the “shrinkflation” consumers perceive.
3-line summary
1. An old Mars bar marked with a 1991 expiration date was found in the United Kingdom.
2. Reports said the old product weighed 62.5g, 56% more than the current standard 40g bar.
3. However, old food should not be eaten, and a single case cannot establish every price change.
What Was Found
ITV News reported that an old Mars bar was found while an old house in Scunthorpe was being cleared out. The wrapper showed an expiration date of 1991, and the weight reported was 62.5g.
ITV described the current standard bar as weighing 40g and calculated that the old bar was 56% heavier. The comparison quickly spread online, bringing consumers’ experiences of products becoming smaller than before back into focus.
What Is Shrinkflation?
Shrinkflation refers to reducing the quantity of a product while keeping its price the same or raising it. Consumers may find it difficult to notice the change by looking only at the price paid at checkout; comparing the weight or quantity inside the package is necessary to identify the actual change.
Rising costs for ingredients, packaging, and logistics can be factors behind companies adjusting prices or quantities. From the consumer’s perspective, however, the key issue is how the unit price has changed.
Weight Alone Is Not Enough
When comparing products from different eras, factors beyond weight—including price, recipe, ingredients, sales region, and product-line differences—must also be considered. A single preserved product does not perfectly represent changes across the entire market.
Still, placing old and current packaging side by side can prompt consumers to examine unit prices. Even with the same price tag, looking at the “price per 100g” or the quantity per item can lead to a more accurate assessment.
Old Food Is Only a Souvenir
Chocolate that is decades old should not be eaten. Even if the packaging appears intact, safety cannot be guaranteed because of fat rancidity, storage conditions, packaging damage, and other factors.
The value of this case lies not in consuming the food, but in the record of consumer culture preserved by the packaging. Expired products should not be consumed and should be disposed of in accordance with local regulations.
Summary
The 35-year-old Mars bar offers a clear example of consumers’ interest in changes to product quantity. The reported comparison between 62.5g and the current 40g symbolically illustrates the shrinkflation debate.
When comparing products, both unit price and quantity should be considered, and old food should never be eaten.
References
- ITV News, Report on the discovery of a 1991 Mars bar and the weight comparison
- Geo.tv, Report on the Mars bar discovery and the shrinkflation debate
- UK Food Standards Agency, Guidance on expiration dates and food safety