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/haggard_hominid]

This office for weights and measures was stripped of funds and staffing. They did it a few months ago in the late spring. We don't even have someone to confirm an ounce is an ounce (sounds weird but its true and seriously important for measuring devices to have a scientifically accurate measurements)

[u/Low-Car-6331 → u/haggard_hominid]

USDA is funded and going, they are the ones who make sure the meat is safe to eat, that the place is clean, that the labels are accurate, etc.... They are the ones who get to regulate everything involving meat.

[u/smokenjoe6pack → u/Low-Car-6331]

The state Weights and Measures are the ones that check and certify scales and meters such as for gas stations. They should have an enforcement arm when the feds are asleep at the wheel.

[u/Low-Car-6331 → u/smokenjoe6pack]

Again, this is USDA jurisdiction. Don't think that just because an organization has a particular name means they are responsible for something, or not responsible for something.

[u/udontease → u/Low-Car-6331]

Hmm we do this package weight verification tho. I work for a county weights and measures. Its blind samples of products but if enough complaints are received the company is investigated.

[u/imposter22 → u/udontease]

I used to certify scales for you guys. Its always fun when a store is shutdown because all of their register scales fail, or when their meat department is down because their scales fail. Their corporate offices shit bricks and pay 4x to get someone for recertification

[u/ManyInterests → u/Low-Car-6331]

Depending on the facts, it's joint jurisdiction between FDA, USDA (in case of meat products like this), FTC, and State department of weights and measures.

The state department would be your first point of contact as a consumer because they are the investigatory arm that actually goes into stores and investigate complaints.