Nigerian consumers have raised the alarm over declining product quality and quantity amid rising prices, warning that it is worsening the cost of living crisis.
They described the trend as “shrinkflation”, the practice of reducing product quantity and quality while prices remain the same or increase.
The consumers stated this in an interview with Consumer Watch, lamenting that brands are now offering smaller sizes and lower-grade products while charging more.
Several shoppers who voiced their minds said that such products include: sachet beverages, canned foods, tomato paste, milk, noodles, and soap, among others, adding that they no longer get value for their money.
Speaking on the same issue, a Lagos-based consumer, Chinwe Uzoma, decried the situation, stressing that it is becoming unbearable.
According to her, “Before now, when you bought a sachet of Milo and milk, you were sure of a good cup of tea. But today, it is no longer the same. The tea tastes bland and watery.
“We, the consumers, are no longer getting value for our money,” she lamented.
Another consumer who spoke with Consumer Watch described the situation as intolerable.
According to her, “In the past, one sachet of Milo and milk was enough for a rich, tasty tea. Now, the same combination produces tea that is tasteless and weak.
Speaking in the same vein, Vivian Onyebukwa said: “It’s unfortunate that consumers are experiencing a reduction in both the quality and quantity of some consumer goods, especially sachet goods.
“Take, for instance, beverages such as milk, drinks, and even tomatoes. These items are supposedly meant to nourish the body; instead, they have become a source of illness to the consumers. Some sachet tomatoes are allegedly manufactured with flour and colour, and they call it tomatoes.
“Sachet milk is now chaff and tasteless. Most sachet drinks are now sending consumers to their early graves.
Read also: LASCOPA intensifies routine inspections to protect consumers from fake, expired goods.
“However, despite reduction in quality and quantity, their prices are going up every day. Government should look into this. We have a government agency in charge of quality control. Manufacturers should not be allowed to take consumers’ health for granted.
On her part, a trader, Aisha Bello, said: “I used to buy a medium size of sachet Milo for my children, and it would last for the week . Now the sachet is smaller, and we finish it in 3 days, but the price is even higher .’’
Another consumer, Chinedu Okoro, said manufacturers are quietly cheating Nigerians and added that they change the packaging but keep the price.
“If you don’t pay attention, you won’t notice. Government needs to step in,” he said.
Speaking also, another Lagos-based consumer, Blessing Ikechi, had the trend as “evil”, blaming manufacturing firms for being unfair to Nigerian consumers.
“Take, for instance, when you buy any tinned product. As soon as you open the tin, you discover that the content is only half, unlike before when it would fill up the container.
“The annoying part is that the price of such products has gone higher. It is a serious issue that should be urgently addressed by the regulatory agencies.’’
She added that if manufacturing firms must reduce the quantity of a product, they should also reduce the price.
“When you buy a tinned product now, once you open it, the content is just half. Before, it used to fill the container,” she said. “But the price has even increased. This is unfair to Nigerians, and the regulators need to act urgently.
Reacting to the development in a report, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, said it has commenced investigations into cases of “shrinkflation” across markets nationwide.
A director at the Commission in the report stated that manufacturers are obligated to disclose any changes in product weight or quality to consumers.
“We will not allow consumers to be shortchanged. Companies must be transparent, and where there are violations, appropriate sanctions will be applied,” the official stated.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, also urged consumers to report substandard products through its consumer safety channels.
Analysts described “shrinkflation” as a common response by manufacturers to rising costs of raw materials. But consumer rights groups argue that failing to clearly label such changes amounts to deceptive practice.
Comments
Start the conversation about this story.