Pet Food Shrinkflation: Are You Getting Less for the Same Price?

Pet food shrinkflation is when a manufacturer quietly reduces the amount of food in a bag while keeping the price the same, rather than raising the price outright. It means you may be buying food every three weeks instead of four for the same $50. Here is what to watch for the next time you shop.

Same Price, Less Kibble

The net quantity or weight of product is one of eight pieces of information required on every pet food label — the ounces or pounds contained in the bag. Shrinkflation is real in the pet food industry. This is when a company, instead of raising the price of a product, shrinks the volume. So for the consumer you see the same $50 bill, but are now having to buy food every three weeks instead of four, because the amount of food in the bag is less. This is extremely common and something to keep in mind as you compare food bags at the store.

How to Protect Yourself

The fix is simple but easy to forget: compare bags by weight, not by price or bag size. Two bags that look identical on the shelf, and cost the same, can contain meaningfully different amounts of food. Check the net weight printed on the label every time you buy, even for a brand you already trust, since formulations and package sizes can change without much notice.

Shrinkflation is just one of the eight required elements on a pet food label. See how it fits into the bigger picture in our complete pet food label guide.

Want to know if you are actually getting a nutritionally comparable product for that price? Read Understanding Pet Food Guaranteed Analysis.

Have questions about your pet’s specific diet? Our veterinary team is happy to walk through your pet’s current food at any wellness visit. Schedule a visit with Healthy Paws Animal Hospital.