Back in your box! Selection treats shrink to curb obesity

IT’S a case of choc horror for those with a sweet tooth – but a win in the battle against obesity.

Cadbury’s selection box has shrunk by nearly 30% since 2016, with some items continuing get the smaller this year.

The standard Cadbury selection box this year contains six treats, Dairy Milk, Double Decker, Crunchie, Wispa, Fudge, and a bag of Buttons, weighing a total of 150g.

The selection box now retails for €2.50, so it has become cheaper 50c cheaper over the past two years, but it has been getting smaller.

The chocolate contained in the Santa selection box weighed 208g in 2016, 194g in 2017, 169g in 2018, 153g last year and now 150g — a reduction of 28% in four years.

The final three grams shaved off when Cadbury reduced the size of the Fudge bar from 25g to 22g this year to ensure it contains less than 100 calories as part of efforts to discourage childhood obesity.

‘Tackling childhood obesity’

‘This year’s Cadbury Santa selection box includes Cadbury Fudge and it is now one of our products under 100 calories,’ a Cadbury spokesperson said.

‘We are committed to playing a part in tackling childhood obesity and have proactively provided consumers with portion control options since 2014, introducing a 100 calorie cap on chocolate and wider biscuit products that are typically bought by parents for their children.’

Meanwhile, standard tubs of Roses, Quality Street, Heroes and Celebrations contain up to 21% less chocolate now than they did in 2014 despite prices remaining largely unchanged.

Tubs of both Cadbury’s Roses and Heroes now hold just 600g of chocolates, compared to 753g and 760g in 2014, respectively.

A tub of Nestle Quality Street now has 650g of sweets compared to 780g in 2014, a reduction of 17%, while Mars Celebrations has shrunk 13% from 750g to 650g.