Shrinkflation Strikes: Customer Complains of “Kids Meal Portion” Amid Rising Costs

Food portion woes grow as prices increase, leaving diners feeling shortchanged.

SINGAPORE: A dissatisfied customer recently took to social media to vent his frustration over what he described as an unreasonably small portion of roasted duck served at a local coffee shop. The issue was compounded by the attendant’s dismissive response: “If you can’t afford to eat it, it’s fine to return.”

The meal, priced at S$5.30, consisted of “a small portion of duck meat and 8-9 grams of char siew, cut into razor-thin slices,” according to Mr. Jaden Leong, who shared his experience on the COMPLAINT SINGAPORE Facebook page on Jan 29. He had purchased the meal from the Famous HK Style stall at Kimly Coffee Shop, Blk 365 Sembawang Crescent.

Mr. Leong attached a photo of his meal to his post, asking readers if the portion justified the price. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the attendant’s attitude when he questioned the portion size. The attendant reportedly told him, “If you can’t afford to eat it, it’s fine to return the food, I will refund the money to you.”

Mr. Leong noted that while the Goods and Services Tax (GST) had increased by 1%, the portion size of his meal had significantly decreased, calling it “shrinkflation.”

Public Reaction
Netizens overwhelmingly agreed with Mr. Leong’s sentiment, with one commenter describing the meal as a “kids meal portion” that resembled “leftovers.” Others pointed out that the size of meat slices, including those in chicken rice dishes, had become noticeably smaller.

“I understand that prices increase due to the so-called ‘9% GST’, but I don’t understand why the portions decrease. Shouldn’t it be the same? Haizzz,” wrote another user.

Many advised Mr. Leong to return the order and request a refund, citing both the small portion and the attendant’s reportedly dismissive behavior.

Shrinkflation Concerns
The incident highlights the growing issue of shrinkflation, where consumers face higher prices for smaller portions of food or packaged goods. One commenter claimed that their food portion had decreased by as much as 40%, while another shared that a large fries order from McDonald’s was only half-full.

This phenomenon has left many Singaporeans feeling shortchanged, with rising costs making value for money increasingly elusive.

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