Are ready meals getting smaller? Pizza, pasta, sauce and spice shrinkflation

How to compare pizzas, sauces and spices

1. Price per kg or per litre. Pizzas, sauces and spice jars come in many sizes; the unit price is the only fair comparison.
2. “XXL” is a name, not a size. Bens Original Saucen XXL süss-sauer extra Ananas 750 g → 675 g (Germany, 2024); Mirácoli Pasta Sauce XXL Basilikum 750 g → 675 g (Germany, 2024).
3. Herb and spice jars: Ostmann Knoblauch 70 g → 40 g (Germany, 2024); Ostmann Italienische Kräuter 23 g → 15 g (Germany, 2024); Ostmann Salatkräuter 24 g → 16 g (Germany, 2024).
4. Mayonnaise jars: Popp Delikatess Mayonnaise 875 ml → 650 ml (Germany, 2024); Sainsbury's garlic and peri peri mayonnaise 280 ml → 250 ml (United Kingdom, 2026); Duke's mayonnaise jar 32 oz → 30 oz (United States, 2022).
5. Gravy and sauce mixes: Bisto Best turkey gravy granules 230 g → 150 g (United Kingdom, 2023); Knorr Rahm Soße 102 g → 68 g (Germany, 2021); Bisto Best gravy granules, large jar (UK, 2026) 390 g → 350 g (United Kingdom, 2026).
6. Look it up: search a brand, or use the barcode lookup.

More: all pasta, rice & meals cases · frozen food shrinkflation · meat & fish shrinkflation · butter, cheese & yogurt · chips shrinkflation · Germany list · UK tracker · Netherlands · US tracker · Thanksgiving & holiday meal.

FAQ

Are ready meals getting smaller?

Yes. Pizzas, pasta, sauces and spice jars keep shrinking. ShrinkRadar has 99 documented cases of pizzas, pasta, rice, ready meals, sauces and spices sold in smaller packs or with fewer items, in Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, India, the US, South Korea, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Israel and Norway, from 2010 to 2026 (32 of them in 2026). The median cut is 12.5%, which is a 14.3% higher price per unit if the pack price stayed the same. The most recent: Old El Paso Crunchy Taco Shells, 12 (UK) 156 g → 135 g (2026); Old El Paso Crunchy Taco kit, garlic & paprika (UK) 308 g → 287 g (2026); AH verse pizza Amerikaans spicy salami 485 g → 450 g (2026); AH verse pizza Amerikaans cheese onion 490 g → 460 g (2026).

Which ready meal or pantry product shrank the most?

Mélange du Jardin Gewürzmischung: 20 g → 10 g (−50.0%, 2020, source: vzhh.de). Others with big cuts: Mein Veggie Tag Veganer Bio Aufschnitt 140 g → 70 g; Lebensbaum Tomaten-Gewürzsalz 150 g → 80 g; Ostmann Knoblauch 70 g → 40 g.

Has Ostmann shrunk its packs?

Yes. 9 documented cuts, newest first: Ostmann Bärlauch 9.5 g → 7 g (2024); Ostmann Gartenkräuter 20 g → 15 g (2024); Ostmann Italienische Kräuter 23 g → 15 g (2024); Ostmann Knoblauch 70 g → 40 g (2024); Ostmann Kräuter der Provence 19 g → 13 g (2024); Ostmann Salatkräuter 24 g → 16 g (2024); Ostmann Schnittlauch 12 g → 9 g (2024); Ostmann Suppengewürz 20 g → 18 g (2024); and more in the brand tracker below.

Has Maggi shrunk its packs?

Yes. 8 documented cuts, newest first: Maggi 2-Minute Noodles, ₹10 pack (India) 52 g → 48 g (2026); Maggi 2-Minute Noodles, ₹120 pack (India) 600 g → 560 g (2026); Maggi 2-Minute Noodles, ₹15 pack (India) 75 g → 70 g (2026); Maggi 2-Minute Noodles, ₹30 pack (India) 150 g → 140 g (2026); Maggi 2-Minute Noodles, ₹60 pack (India) 300 g → 280 g (2026); Maggi 2-Minute Noodles, ₹7 pack (India) 35 g → 32 g (2026); Maggi 2-Minute Noodles, ₹90 pack (India) 450 g → 420 g (2026); Maggi rustikale Tomatencremesuppe 1000 ml → 750 ml (2025).

Has Knorr shrunk its packs?

Yes. 7 documented cuts, newest first: Knorr Veggie Wraps 370 g → 240 g (2025); Knorr Pasta Pot Käse & Sahne 71 g → 63 g (2024); Knorr Bouillon mit Rind 150 g → 130 g (2022); Knorr Natürlich Lecker! Fix Lasagne 60 g → 43 g (2021); Knorr Pasta Snack Pilz-Rahm-Sauce 70 g → 63 g (2021); Knorr Rahm Soße 102 g → 68 g (2021); Knorr Fix Gulasch 51 g → 46 g (2019).

Has AH shrunk its packs?

Yes. 5 documented cuts, newest first: AH verse pizza Amerikaans cheese onion 490 g → 460 g (2026); AH verse pizza Amerikaans spicy salami 485 g → 450 g (2026); AH verse pizza bianca 418 g → 408 g (2026); AH verse pizza salami pesto 541 g → 433 g (2026); AH Steenoven pizza piccante 447 g → 372 g (2025).

Did the price per unit go up?

Where the source recorded the price before and after (75 cases), 75 cost more per unit afterwards.

Are pizzas getting smaller?

Yes. 11 pizza cases, the biggest: Pizza Ah Baguette Salami 750 g → 500 g (Germany, 2021); AH verse pizza salami pesto 541 g → 433 g (Netherlands, 2026); Pukka steak and pepperoni pizza slices (UK) 170 g → 140 g (United Kingdom, 2026); Naturgut Bio Steinofen-Pizza Spinat-Feta 410 g → 340 g (Germany, 2026); AH Steenoven pizza piccante 447 g → 372 g (Netherlands, 2025).

Are pasta and rice packs getting smaller?

Yes. Pasta Nona parmesan ravioli (Israel) 400 g → 300 g (Israel, 2025–2026); Oryza Milchreis 1000 g → 800 g (Germany, 2023); Bens Original Basmati-Reis 250 g → 220 g (Germany, 2023); Kraft Dinner Original 225 g → 200 g (Canada, 2023); Explore Cuisine Organic Red Lentil Penne 250 g → 225 g (Germany, 2026).

Are spice jars getting smaller?

Yes. 15 herb, spice and seasoning cases, 9 of them from Ostmann. The biggest: Mélange du Jardin Gewürzmischung 20 g → 10 g (Germany, 2020); Lebensbaum Tomaten-Gewürzsalz 150 g → 80 g (Germany, 2024); Ostmann Knoblauch 70 g → 40 g (Germany, 2024); Ostmann Italienische Kräuter 23 g → 15 g (Germany, 2024).

How do I compare ready meal prices fairly?

Use the price per kg or per 100 g (per ounce in the US), and for jars and sauces the price per litre. The unit price calculator compares packs by weight, volume or count.

Where does this data come from?

From allsupers.co.uk, prijsprofeet.nl, handlevakten.no, israelhayom.co.il, vzhh.de, consumentenbond.nl, angelone.in, mouseprint.org. Each case page quotes or links its source, and we list a cut only when the source gives both the old and the new size or count. We do not estimate.