Results: More and more I find the things I used to love to eat are now less enjoyable and more expensive. So much so I am not buying them anymore. Other people say the same. How can this be profitable? Here are some examples.
There are various ways a company can generate more profit from the manufacture and sale of its products. In recent years however, some of these ways have resulted in a drop in sales which, while it may provide a quick rise in profits, will ultimately lose customers to competitors or change demand. Here are some examples where I have done this.
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1.
A company can increase profits by running its business more efficiently. It can also charge more for its products or reduce how much it packages for a given price. Another way to generate profit is to use cheaper ingredients in its products. This last option has the most potential for harm and even may generate civil legal action. Have you experienced any of the following issues caused by changes to ingredients?
An allergic reaction caused by the addition or substitution of an ingredient.
6%
•
125 votes
The use of questionable ingredients that may be detrimental to consumers' health in the long term.
13%
•
271 votes
Replacing expensive natural ingredients with cheaper ones that may be higher in fat, sugar, salt and hope consumers don't notice.
24%
•
513 votes
Making the above changes while still marketing the product as if it were still of the same quality and flavor.
23%
•
478 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
17 votes
Not Applicable
56%
•
1171 votes
- Fritos
- Vaccinations
- none
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.50% | 7 | |
| Less product and more money | 0.07% | 1 |
| Decreased product size | 0.07% | 1 |
| Smaller size packaging for the same amount of money | 0.07% | 1 |
| smaller size same price as the previous size | 0.07% | 1 |
| Smaller packages at the same or higher prices | 0.07% | 1 |
| Decreasing profit and keep consumer happy! | 0.07% | 1 |
| Smaller packages or less products. | 0.07% | 1 |
| The ingredients in some pizzas have changed not the same taste. | 0.07% | 1 |
| Taking away sugar, then tastes awful. | 0.07% | 1 |
| Smaller packages, higher prices. | 0.07% | 1 |
2.
2.
I used to feed my dogs Iams products purchased through specialty petfood stores. Then my dog got sick and we discovered that wheat had been added as a filler and chicken meal had been substituted for chicken. Both of these ingredients have been known to cause digestive upsets (or worse) in dogs. Our vet told us the change in formula was so that the product could meet a price goal so that it could be sold by Walmart. We switched brands to Blue Buffalo but recently that company was purchased by General Mills who made similar changes that also made my dog ill. Have you experienced something similar?
I changed brands because of changes to ingredients.
12%
•
260 votes
I have had an allergic reaction because of changes to ingredients
6%
•
130 votes
I have become ill because of changes to ingredients.
5%
•
113 votes
I stopped buying a product outright because I refuse to pay for quality I'm not getting..
19%
•
396 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
12 votes
Not Applicable
66%
•
1376 votes
- n/a
- Do a bit of research--the "no grain, no wheat" brands can cause heart problems in dogs.
- No specific ingredient (I'm supposed to be allergic to egg whites, milk, and wheat but can consume all three in moderation without problems), but as I get older red meat sometimes gives me fits.
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.44% | 4 | |
| My dog does not want dry food anymore | 0.11% | 1 |
| I am loyal to Royal Canin | 0.11% | 1 |
| changed brand because they increase price 3 time in the same year resulting in double the cost per bag | 0.11% | 1 |
| I don't have a dog! | 0.11% | 1 |
| Purina, same thing. | 0.11% | 1 |
| Diamond Naturals and 4Health (mf'd by Diamond for Tractor Supply) are quality kibble with reasonable price tag. "Dog food advisor" website is great source of info. | 0.11% | 1 |
| Did not know General Mills now makes Blue Buffalo, so far our pet has not shown any signs of being ill from consuming the product. Mind you she has thrown up a few times, but we cannot seem to attribute it to the dog food. | 0.11% | 1 |
| no | 0.11% | 1 |
3.
3.
My wife and I love our coffee and our favourite brand was Nabob. It had 100% Colombian coffee beans, and was value priced. Then the price went up significantly. We noticed the can was also smaller, the flavour was different and it no longer said "100% Colombian." We then discovered the Canadian Nabob company had been purchased by Kraft who made these changes and lost our business. Have you done something similar after one of your favourite items was adulterated in the name of profits?
I have changed brands.
26%
•
536 votes
I have changed my preferences.
16%
•
341 votes
I have consumed less.
13%
•
270 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
12 votes
Not Applicable
55%
•
1159 votes
- crappy
- Angry
- I don't know that that is happening from the given information (?)
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.69% | 8 | |
| All of the above! | 0.09% | 1 |
| Haven't had to yet, but I'll probably do the same thing. | 0.09% | 1 |
| I love Folgers but will buy it only if on sale and lately where we live now that is not often so to a lower priced option | 0.09% | 1 |
| Thanks for telling me this. I had no idea! We drank Nabob regularly too, but will be changing brands now, unfortunately. :( | 0.09% | 1 |
4.
4.
Have you noticed that bad reviews about chocolate have disappeared in the past few years? Most articles now applaud its health benefits. It supposedly helps with heart diseases, gastrointestinal problems and even improves brain functions. The problem is this propaganda is funded by the big chocolate manufacturers. I bought some Cadbury's recently and it tasted nothing like the chocolate they were once known for. Were you aware of some of the following ways chocolate can be manipulated?
The most expensive ingredient of chocolate is cocoa butter,. Many manufacturers substitute it with hydrogenated oils full of trans fat.
27%
•
565 votes
Other ingredients used in place of cocoa butter are emulsifiers to increase the viscosity of the chocolate so that it can pass easier through processing machines. On the ingredients list, emulsifiers take different names, including soy lecithin, sunflower lecithin etc.
25%
•
517 votes
Manufacturers prefer artificial flavourings that are cheaper. Why bother with expensive vanilla beans when vanillin is so cheap? Read the ingredients list.
28%
•
589 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
17 votes
Not Applicable
51%
•
1071 votes
- I am not aware of this activity. It means women get to act on her own,
- no idea
- More fakeness, and fillers, less quality
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.65% | 11 | |
| Did not know | 0.06% | 1 |
| In the USA (I suspect Canada too, but am not sure) they put wax in our chocolate (often not listed on the ingredient list). When you go to Europe, they do not put wax in their chocolate. It taste way better, melts easier, and is all around better. | 0.06% | 1 |
| Thanks for the info. I was not aware of any of these. | 0.06% | 1 |
| Using low grade chocolate powder. | 0.06% | 1 |
| Some companies do not sell dark chocolate anymore. | 0.06% | 1 |
| switching real chocolate to cocoa | 0.06% | 1 |
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