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Stealth inflation

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Clueless 1 v2, Jul 21, 2022.

  1. Clueless 1 v2

    Clueless 1 v2 Total Gardener

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    We all know that inflation is crazy at the moment.

    But has anyone else noticed any stealth inflation?

    We buy bags of 8 ready cooked jacket potatoes. The McCain ones. We buy them because by the time you buy spuds and cook them, it used to be about as cheap to just buy the ready made ones and whack them in the microwave for a few minutes. Last couple of bags we've bought though, we've noticed the spuds are practically raw. Certainly not the nice crusty jackets with fluffy interior that they used to be. Just barely cooked and frozen. I imagine this is because McCain has taken steps to reduce their production costs, probably by shortening the baking time. They still sell at about the same price, but now we have to spend more on energy to finish the cooking process. If I wanted to bake a potato, I'd just... bake a potato. The ready made ones used to be a convenience.

    Then today we had pie for tea. The lovely tender chunks of steak in said pies, were as tough as old boots.
     
  2. NigelJ

    NigelJ Total Gardener

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    I'd write to McCain and complain/ask them it could be a quality issue. I didn't know such things even existed. I've just done spuds in the microwave myself a few minutes, cut in half add filling and another minute, done.
    Could be old boots given the current fad of recycling everything.
     
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    • john558

      john558 Total Gardener

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      I part cook my Bake Pots in the Microwave and finish off in the oven. I've tried the McCain ones and don't think they taste the same as fresh cooked ones.
       
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      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        I don't think I would like frozen baked potatoes re-heated in a microwave. I've had baked potatoes off a stall and they had rubbery texture so I associate that with being microwaved. It wouldn't surprise me that food manufacturers are cutting corners though.
         
      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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        It's possible they are cutting corners (do potatoes have corners?) but you should definitely complain to McCain's. If you don't tell them, and they have done it on purpose, they will think nobody has noticed. If they haven't done it on purpose they may be able to correct it.

        I complain to manufacturers all the time - it's my duty as the President of the Grumpy Old Men's Club :old: - and have had some good successes in the past. Most, at the least, say they will check into it (even if they don't bother) and send a voucher or products. Others go out of their way to try and correct things.
         
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        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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          I've got a combination microwave, comes with a preset for baked potato, depending on size it takes 10 to 15 min.
           
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          • Clueless 1 v2

            Clueless 1 v2 Total Gardener

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            But apart from baked spuds, has anyone else noticed examples of stealth inflation?
             
          • pete

            pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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            Its been going of for years, the humble Mars bar or wagon wheel are the usual examples.
            But packaging is getting larger and the contents are getting smaller.
             
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            • Michael Hewett

              Michael Hewett Total Gardener

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              I don't know if this counts, I bought an apple pie yesterday in the Coop but the pastry is underdone and I'll have to put it in the oven for a while before it can be eaten.
              Tesco ones have been like that for years so I never buy them. I won't buy a Coop one again, I may try making my own. I suppose it will take some electricity but if I make two and cook them both together it may save a bit, and I can put one in the freezer.
               
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              • JWK

                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                Clothes are made much smaller these days, to fit my 32" waist I now have to buy 34" jeans.
                 
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                • Michael Hewett

                  Michael Hewett Total Gardener

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                  I keep clothes for many years and I have 'small' shirts from those days that are the same size as the 'large' ones you buy now, so I buy 'large' these days even though I have the same size chest. I don't like tight clothes.
                   
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                  • pete

                    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                    I have a similar problem, a pair of 34in waist jeans dont fit anymore, has the imperial inch been made smaller I ask myself.
                    I blame Brexit.
                     
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                    • shiney

                      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                      No, (scientific answer) it's because the galaxy has slowed down and live things, such as ourselves, are not compressed quite as much. The clothes are not live so they remain the same whereas we have expanded with the lower centrifugal force.
                       
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                      • pete

                        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                        Thank god for that, for a while I thought I was getting fat.:biggrin:
                         
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                        • Clueless 1 v2

                          Clueless 1 v2 Total Gardener

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                          I thought it was because our greater mass compared to clothes gave us a greater gravitational pull. You don't often see pies falling into the wardrobe.
                           
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