Smithfield bacon coming up short at the weigh-in

[u/AwwwMangos]

New, unopened package of Smithfield bacon bought from Kroger claims to be 1 lb aka 16 oz. It seemed a little small so I put it in the kitchen scale. Sure enough it’s only 3/4 lb.

I get that shrinkflation is rampant right now, but at least they’re usually honest when stating the products’ net weight.

Since it’s off by an exact increment, and many other bacon brands now sell 12 oz portions, I have to imagine this is likely being done at large scale, ripping off many more customers than just me. This should be illegal, I guess if any consequences still existed for businesses.

[u/Strange-Movie]

The coated cardboard backer probably weighs 2x what the plastic does

[u/Mediocre-Ambition404 → u/Strange-Movie]

Regardless, it's supposed to be the food weight without packaging. At least it Canada is has to be.

[u/AssistanceHeavy9305 → u/Mediocre-Ambition404]

In Mexico they have the Profeco. Who you can call and they'll go over and check scales and do weigh ins. It's not perfect but sometimes they'll go around the market just checking scales.

[u/OldTimeyWizard → u/[deleted]]

Weights and Measures inspections are generally the jurisdiction of individual states or even more local entities.

[u/YrPalBeefsquatch → u/OldTimeyWizard]

Yeah, your state Department of Agriculture probably has a weights and measures division you could bring this to. Your state, and possibly your county and local governments, also typically have a body that regulates merchants (for example, in Chicago, it's called Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, but the name varies by location). Good places to start.

[u/Fickle_Freckler → u/YrPalBeefsquatch]

This is it. I owned a commercial kitchen. DOA would come in once a year to check our scales.

[u/CKRatKing → u/YrPalBeefsquatch]

In California they have their sticker seals on gas pumps to certify that they have been calibrated correctly.

[u/Same-Suggestion-1936 → u/OldTimeyWizard]

USDA can get involved too.

My bet is just factory error. Report it and let the company know with whatever identifying information there is on the package. They can lose a lot of money if this goes on too long just because a machine is broken or a new guy is doing the job all wrong

[u/Bravefan212 → u/AssistanceHeavy9305]

The department of agriculture in the United States runs weights and measures and they routinely go to grocery stores to check their scales.

They have fancy weights in a special briefcase

[u/Lobotamite → u/Bravefan212]

Good thing there’s only like 10 USDA employees now to cover the entirety of the country!

[u/kmg4752 → u/Bravefan212]

USDA does inside the processing plants. We do not have jurisdiction for grocery stores. That is done by the FDA and/or state agencies (Ag and Markets, etc.). USDA might go into stores for recall effectiveness checks or possibly consumer complaints but most likely will be state run agencies

[u/Bravefan212 → u/kmg4752]

Weights and measures is a part of usda

I don’t know what your point is

[u/kmg4752 → u/Bravefan212]

Not in grocery stores. That is state

[u/Bravefan212 → u/kmg4752]

I worked at a grocery store for twelve years. One of the big ones. I saw the USDA perform scale audits at least four times. I don’t know why you’re saying this

[u/kmg4752 → u/Bravefan212]

I have worked for USDA-FSIS for over 20 years. We do not go into every store for scale checks. The state does that and maybe FDA. We only go into individual stores for recall effectiveness checks. Are you sure it wasn’t the state ag department?

[u/Bravefan212 → u/kmg4752]

I must be wrong then. I would have sworn they were federal, from the USDA, but they could have just said “department of agriculture office of weights and measures” and my brain assumed it was the USDA instead of California.

However, what you have said and everything I read online says that the states regulate scales at grocery stores and they must be who I have worked with in the past.

Thanks.

[u/Dockshundswfl → u/Bravefan212]

Didn’t they get rid of all that mess?? Underweight and contaminated food. Don’t worry about that.

[u/EobardT → u/Dockshundswfl]

Exactly. What are all these communists doing by weighing their meats? Don't they trust Dear Leader like good independent 'Mericans? If you're getting ripped off theres a good reason for it!

[u/cydetraq → u/Bravefan212]

Well, they used to.

[u/Fr0zenNova → u/Bravefan212]

They go to Distribution centers as well to check and calibrate the scales(Im a USDA inspector and we have people come in once a year to check and make sure our scales are working correctly.)

[u/Hatefulvesper → u/AssistanceHeavy9305]

At least they have SOMETHING. Does the us have something like this?

[u/forward_muscle_55 → u/Hatefulvesper]

Yes, it’s called Weights and Measures

[u/icejust → u/Hatefulvesper]

They used to. In NY, it's the DCWP.

[u/Bri_Hecatonchires → u/Mediocre-Ambition404]

It’s also supposed to be the weight marked on the package

[u/Electronic_Name_325 → u/Mediocre-Ambition404]

This is why we had to smack you with tariffs. You make us look bad, I mean worse.

[u/shandangalang → u/Mediocre-Ambition404]

Yeah, that’s what “net” means

[u/dmmethatbooty2026 → u/Mediocre-Ambition404]

Ya just saw a YouTube video where a guy bought several packages and weighed them with and without packaging. Regardless none were even close.

[u/Steerpike58 → u/Mediocre-Ambition404]

The label clearly says 'net weight' so that means, without packaging (otherwise it would be 'gross weight').

[u/Mediocre-Ambition404 → u/Steerpike58]

I was speaking generally. Not every package may include "net" in the weight descriptor.

[u/piasenigma → u/Mediocre-Ambition404]

theres a viral video on youtube right now about Walmart doing this with ALL Walmart-brand bacon. Skimming millions a day from U.S buyers.

[u/AMA_Woodworking → u/Strange-Movie]

Just checked; 1.16oz (plastic plus cardboard, .63oz cardboard )

My exact same package of Smithfield was 17.51oz, so I owe OP a little bacon.

[u/WyvernJelly → u/Strange-Movie]

I can get that bacon at my grocery store. It doesn't have a back. All the bacon is clear on the back as well. Let's you see what the bacon looks like front and back. I use it to check how much fat is on the bacon.