Skimpflation: Cough Syrup Strength Cut in Half

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,738
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Shrinkflation’s evil twin is “skimpflation.”
That is when a manufacturer reformulates a product using less of the expensive components and sometimes substitutes less expensive ingredients. In other words, some products actually get watered down.

Supposedly, it was reformulated to improve taste.
hm.. cut the amount of actual medicine in half and it'll taste better. :eek:
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,353
10,876
136
Lesson for today: Always read the back label and fine-print. ;)


Not the first time I've seen this BS with kids versions of OTC medications in particular either.... same thing also happens all the time with foods, soaps, paper products etc etc.

It really is a deceptive marketing practice.
 

Torn Mind

Lifer
Nov 25, 2012
12,065
2,768
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Maybe it's safety because people get ideas about....consuming amounts far exceeding the label....
 
Mar 11, 2004
23,444
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Did you read the article you linked? The store brands aren't saying they did it for taste, that is Robitussin (obviously full of shit, doing it to maximize profit or else they would've simultaneously increased the bottle size giving you effectively the same amount of the medicine just in a "better tasting" version - frankly I'm surprised someone hasn't made something like a beverage out of this stuff), who actually made this change 5 years ago in 2017. I'm guessing the store brands did finally follow suit due to "inflation" and/or "shortages". Which its a double whammy this year as I bet there are a lot more people buying this due to the uptick in respiratory illnesses this year, and those people are probably in for a bummer because of this. Its also further compounded by the fact that due to increased mass, some medicines are less potent already for modern American adults.

But it shows how you're much better off going with store brands for most medications.

Hopefully if things go back the other way people pay attention and don't overdose.

Also, frankly I'm surprised they didn't make the change by citing a concern for children saying that it helps prevent overdosing of them. I'm guessing that might've opened them up to proper scrutiny though.
 
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Jon-T

Senior member
Jun 5, 2011
531
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Seeing as how this took place in 2017 and predates current inflation trends I wonder if it because it contains dextromethorphan. (feel free to google it)

Dextromethorphan is the most potently intoxicating OTC out there. By diluting it the user must drink twice as much of the yuckey stuff to get the same buzz.
 

james1701

Golden Member
Sep 14, 2007
1,791
34
91
They both have the same mg of medicine. It's just concentrated in the 10ml dosage. If the bottle size stayed the same, you get double the amount of doses per bottle.
 
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sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
99,846
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I thought it has basically been outlawed here. Nope, just shortages.
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,353
10,876
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I stand by my assessment!

i-see-what-you-did-there