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Comment by wirthjason | Hacker News Reader

While not a true counterfeit I'd be curious on the brands/foods/restaurants that increasingly add fillers to their products. As inflation rises companies turn shady tricks like less product for the same price and substituting ingredients to help offset the costs. These tricks tend to happen slowly so they go unnoticed to the average consumer.

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Is there evidence connecting fraud to inflation? Very generally, the cost of someone's income and expenses both increase. It also provides a way for sellers to increase costs, regardless of inflation, then blame inflation like it's a natural force. There was a NY Times article about it in the last few months.

I’m not saying it’s outright fraud but companies change things and don’t tell the consumer. Im making up this example but let’s say you buy a coffee blend that’s composed of 60% bean A, which is more expensive, and 40% bean B. Then next week they flip the ratio, 60% B/40% A but still charge the same price. I can’t say it’s outright fraud but it kinda feels deceptive. Of course the company might say “consumers actually prefer the 2nd mix blah blah blah.”

I found a this article pretty good.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-12/how-infla...

I understand, but I'm saying it's fraud. I think we somehow have lowered our standards for 'business'. If customers prefer the second mix, then there's no reason the vendor can't label it as such and let customers make up their own minds.

I see what you mean. I totally agree. It’s a bit like a bait an switch.

I’m not aware of any consumer protection laws against something like that. The only thing I could think of is either regulated products, like buying 2% milk that isn’t 2%. Or where it’s a obviously counterfeit.

In the former case of regulation Bryers ice cream changed their labeling to remove “ice cream” because it doesn’t meet the USDA definition of ice cream and instead call it “frozen dairy dessert”.

https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/is-your-favorite-ice...

The best people could do is vote with their dollars but it’s not always obvious.

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