Food Companies Sacrifice Taste as Costs Rise
Rising costs of ingredients have led food companies to quietly modify their recipes, resulting in snacks and sodas tasting worse. This phenomenon, known as "skimpflation" or "flavorflation," allows companies to hide the impact of inflation and avoid passing higher costs onto consumers. By replacing expensive ingredients with cheaper alternatives, companies are making food less tasty, less healthy, and less satisfying. These recipe changes often go unnoticed by consumers, who may only realize the difference in taste and quality over time. Additionally, these modifications can have hidden health impacts, such as the use of artificial sweeteners, which are linked to increased risks of weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and heart diseases. Skimpflation also hides the true impact of rising costs, as changes in recipe quality and taste are not captured in traditional inflation indicators, leading to a decline in the overall consumer experience.