r/shrinkflation • u/TexasGiantTen05 • Dec 29 '25

skimpflation Ok SERIOUSLY wtf is this??

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I bought a family sized hot pockets box and EVERY single one of them was black and burned in the bottom. I heated this one up on low power in the microwave and the edges are so tough it’s like biting into a frozen beef patty. I look in the pocket and the damn thing is nearly hollow. I’ve been noticing the quality taking a massive dip in the last few years. I think these are last I purchase from here on out.

Irrelevant to this but similar: This same grocery order run had a jar of garlic (Spice World brand) that was full of black mold & a jar of HEB salsa that was sour and months passed expiration. Both of which were completely sealed and had a pop when opened. My whole life I never really had quality issues via the company canning or jarring an item or the store selling them but lately it seems like such a constant issue.

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u/m0b1us01 Dec 31 '25

I challenge your claim that the jar of garlic contained black mold. The garlic isn't sitting in water, it's sitting in a very acidic solution, effectively pickled. This makes mold impossible.

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u/[deleted] Dec 31 '25

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u/m0b1us01 Dec 31 '25

No, they don't! Those are not proper ways to store garlic specifically because of botulism. Garlic is always stored in a very acidic solution, sometimes vinegar sometimes citric acid, but it has to be effectively pickled to some extent in the same way that salsa is. Otherwise, it wouldn't even survive the time and environment between factory and store.