Deceptive food packaging is really irksome to a lot of consumers, especially since many people tend to choose products based on packaging size. It’s difficult to know just what 6 ounces of pita chips will look like out of the inflated bag, isn’t it?
Consumer Reports recently asked some companies to explain just what’s going on with that empty space or extra-large packaging. In their January article,”Air to Spare,” Consumer Reports describes their Black Hole Award, given to products with lots of empty air in the packaging. They mention 
that the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act allows “slack fill” if it serves a purpose like keeping a product from breaking or to discourage theft in the retail setting. However, Consumer Reports also adds that the FDA hasn’t charged a slack-fill violation in the last five years.
In their “Wasted Space“ article, Consumer Reports explains what a few companies had to say about the empty space in their products. For example, they asked the makers of Ocean saline spray, Fleming Pharmaceuticals, why they have a cardboard partition and empty space in their boxes.
Fleming explained that they sometimes offer a buy-one-get-one-free promotion and the same box is used whether the extra bottle is included or not. They added that they can’t change box sizes because that would present shelf space issues in stores.
You can read what the makers of other slack-space products like Uncle Ben’s, Post Shredded Wheat and Bayer One a Day had to say in the January 2010 issue of Consumer Reports.
Are you offended or confused by extra space in product packaging?
(Image via stock.xchng; Fleming Pharmaceuticals)
Post from: Blisstree