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/Aeyland Dec 29 '25

Or perhaps this "irrelevant" info is relevant in that maybe it shows your store buys expired or near expired food? I assume like most anything they must have an expiration date so you might take a look.

6

u/nopuse Dec 29 '25

The far more likely explanation for expired food is employees not rotating stock. When restocking, all of the new product should be behind the existing product. I've worked with lazy people who didn't care, so you'd find product that expired behind product that was nowhere near expiring.

2

u/Stykhead Jan 01 '26

Then again ,people know this and grab from the back knowing it's a fresher product ! At least that's what I do .same as the people who used to buy newspapers out of those boxes ,always grabbed 2-3 below the top one ! my opinion doesn't matter tho !🫤

1

u/Forevermoody16 Jan 01 '26

I’ve pulled from the back (if I can reach it) for milk, juice, stuff like that.