One of the most beloved characters from Sesame Street is making waves on X with his shrinkflation complaint. The Cookie Monster took to social media to complain about his beloved cookies. He noticed they are getting smaller and smaller, and people related to his complaint.
“Me hate shrinkflation! Me cookies are getting smaller,” stated the adorable blue muppet on X. But, in true Cookie Monster form, he also added, “Guess me going to have to eat double da cookies.”
Eating more cookies is a smart way to adapt to shrinkflation for a muppet. After all he does not have to pay for his own cookies. But, Americans are not as lucky. Paying for those cookies is straining family budgets across the nation.
A report from FRED reflects a large increase in price per pound of chocolate chip cookies. In 1985, the cost of a pound of cookies was roughly $1.95 per pound. By 2023, that cost more than doubled to over $5.00 per pound.
Not only are the cookies more expensive, they seem to be getting smaller and smaller. Consumers are also noticing a big change in ingredients as well. In an article in the New York Post, Oreo lovers began noticing the creme center was shrinking.
The Cookie Monster did not go unnoticed on Twitter.
The White House responded to the Cookie Monster on X with, “C is for consumers getting ripped off. President Biden is calling on companies to put a stop to shrinkflation.”
In February 2024, President Biden stated “The American public is tired of being played for suckers,” in a video shared on X. This video was a call to consumer brands to stop the practice of making smaller products but keeping the price the same.
Senator Sherrod Brown also chimed in saying, “Me too, Cookie Monster. Big corporations shrink the size of their products without shrinking their prices, all to pay for CEO bonuses. People in my state of Ohio are fed up — they should get all the cookie they pay for.”
Could the Cookie Monster have enough power to make some change? We doubt it. But the awareness and conversation around an issue of this size can only be a good thing.
For now, the Cookie Monster should start making those cookies at home. Not only will it be cheaper – but healthier too!
