FOOD NEWS
Why Is Canned Tuna Always Sold In Such Small Containers?
By Noor Anand Chawla
Canned tuna is a versatile and handy food item to have in your kitchen, but there is one gripe many of us have with canned tuna — it always comes in small cans.
Part of the reason for the small cans may be to reduce waste, as leftover tuna will only last a few days in the fridge, but the tiny cans may also be a way to rip off consumers.
In response to a query on this very question in The Guardian UK, reader SnowyJohn shared a probable reason for the diminutive size of tuna cans.
They said that some tuna cans come in large sizes but aren't seen much because people are used to small-size tuna cans and added that they're a "popular size."
They added, "There's not enough demand for many shops to offer alternatives. Same as why soft drinks normally come in 33cl cans or 2l bottles."
Redditors offered other explanations like "marketing as wider cans have more space for advertising" or that the cans fit the machinery in fish canneries better.
However, tuna cans weren't always sold in small cans, and their size was gradually reduced over time in what economists and consumer affairs lawyers call "shrinkflation."
Shrinkflation means that the sizes of goods are reduced by brands, even though the prices of the products remain the same and, in some cases, even increase.
The most recent example of the latter was in 2017, when 6-ounce cans of tuna were reduced to 5 ounces with a simultaneous price increase.