They’re shrinking our Cadbury Creme Eggs and denying it
Steve Safran April 7th, 2007
So far off topic, and yet so dear to our hearts. Those little annual bundles of cocaine-strength sugary joy, Cadbury Creme Eggs, are getting smaller - and yet Cadbury denies it. At Lost Remote, we’re here to investigate the stories that really matter. From the Wikipedia entry (of course) on Cadbury Creme Eggs :
One Creme Egg weighs 1.4 oz (40 g) and contains 171.6 Calories. While many people feel that the size has diminished since its introduction in 1971, Cadbury maintains “It hasn’t—you’ve just grown up!” However, 1.2 oz (34 g) eggs - made in England but licensed to The Hershey Company - are now appearing on shelves in the United States…That is a 15% reduction.
Indeed, if you go to the Cadbury FAQ for the Creme Eggs, the “you’ve just grown up” claim is right there at the bottom. This was magnificently exposed this past week on NBC’s Late Night by actor B.J. Novak from The Office. Turns out the guy’s a Creme Egg freak - and had kept an unopened egg from 2005. He shows the 2005 egg in comparison to the 2007 egg in this clip. Indeed, it appears, B.J. has the smoking egg:
Lost Remote demands Cadbury give an explanation on behalf of the LR Faithful and our constant demand for sugar so intense that one teaspoon weighs as much as Saturn.
13 Comments Add your own
1. Jason Parker | April 7th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
OK, I’m reporting this to the Fox Problem Solvers.
2. FrankM | April 8th, 2007 at 8:31 am
Hershey is just taking a page from the cereal industry…. Lower the size, keep the price the same.
I used to get 8oz Hershey bars for $1 on sale at supermarkets and drugstores. Then they became 7oz bars. Then 6oz. I think they may be down to 5oz. now. Still a dollar!
Now a new size has creeped up on the shelf– 8oz. Of course it proudly displays “half pound” in large letters on the front. The ‘on sale’ price? 2/$3. Wait, didn’t I used to get these for $1?
What really unfair about this scheme is that Hershey’s now gets TWO spaces on the shelf per ‘flavor’. This displaces a competing product from the shelf space.
This wouldn’t bug me so much if they just made the “Cookies and Mint” bar available year-round, and in a non-limited edition. How dare they withhold product from an addict!
3. Amanda | April 8th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
As a PSA for all those who are upset on the incredible shrinking eggs, please click on the link in my name.
4. discreet_chaos | April 8th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Amanda - Two bottles of liquid glucose? Wow.
BTW: The Novak fellow is listed as a writer on the show. I really don’t know the backstory on this, but I’ve noticed his name in the credits and that may explain why he’s coherent.
5. Safran | April 8th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
AMAZING work, Amanda. I’ve never wanted to go swimming in a snack before.
6. dot tilde dot | April 10th, 2007 at 8:48 am
@FrankM: That’s not unfair - you’ve just grown up!
7. Mark | April 10th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
All of the people who act on the Office also write it and such, and thats what its actually a great show
8. CF | April 16th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
They have now changed their Web site. They must have received some complaints. Lame reasoning, people want more for their money, not less. We want the bigger egg back!
Why has the size of the egg changed?
As the world’s largest confectionery company, Cadbury Schweppes is committed to developing great-tasting products that you, the consumer loves. Since people’s preferences vary from market to market, so do our products. This is reflected in the broad variety of sizes and flavours of products that we offer our consumers worldwide.
9. johnthepcson | May 31st, 2007 at 11:18 am
anyone noticed that the picture on wikipedia and the whole section about the conspiracy has disappeared? bloody cadbury. they are trying to withhold the information.
the thing is that if the cost increases for making the egg, then charge more. no one would care. but don’t make the product smaller and still keep the price the same. it’s all due to cost accounting, I bet. someone said:
hey, we can make more $$$ by ripping off our customers
and they did it.
Cadbury - it’s out. Change it back.
[goes for every other super company that wants to rip us off]
10. johnthepcson | May 31st, 2007 at 11:26 am
oh, they put the text back
but the picture went.
11. love | April 15th, 2008 at 11:24 am
i love these eggs
12. love | April 15th, 2008 at 11:24 am
i love these eggs
13. love | April 15th, 2008 at 11:25 am
i love these eggs
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