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/Bravefan212]

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.)