...but beware Maltesers, the latest casualty of shrinkflation

MALTESERS are now the latest victims of the curse of shrinkflation.

Sharing packs are now seven chocolates lighter, in a trend which sees manufacturers reduce sizes while keeping prices the same. The tactic has been used on everything from teabags to toilet rolls.

The packs have shrunk from 189g to 17 g – a fall of 7. per cent, or seven chocolates – but still cost £2 in most supermarkets.

A spokesman for brand owner Mars Wrigley said: ‘We have been absorbing the rising costs of raw materials and operations for some time, but the growing pressures we are facing mean that more needs to be done.’

Last month, the company reduced its Twix bars by 1 per cent, to just a third of its original size. Meanwhile Cadburys slashed the size of Dairy Milk bars by 10 per cent in March. A spokesman for its owner Mondelez said: ‘Our products are much more expensive to make.’