Shopper opens box of ribs, finds meat fills less than half, and commenters call it 'fraud'

A shopper expecting a hearty box of ribs on vacation got a rude surprise instead when they opened the box. Inside, the meat appeared to fill less than half the package.

Here's what to know

The complaint appeared in a post on Reddit's r/MildlyInfuriating forum, where the original poster wrote, "Holy shrinkflation. Brought this to [a] cottage trip, the ribs are less than half the box. The plastic that the ribs came in is still the old size, but when I fold it, that's how much meat there was."

The OP also questioned whether the packaging crossed a line, adding, "I feel like this has got to be fraud, but it's the 21st century, who would come after them?"

Commenters quickly picked up on how little the product seemed to match the container's size. One wrote, "No way bro, is there nothing else in that package?" Another asked, "When you picked up the box did you feel the contents in the inside sliding back and forth?"

A third user pointed to rules in another country that address this kind of packaging, writing, "Where I'm from (New Zealand), that's literally illegal due to Fair Trading Law (1986). Slack fill can't exceed a certain percentage without a Very good reason and the Packaging itself cannot mislead the customer."

What can be done?

Looking at a product's net weight and unit price can help shoppers avoid this kind of letdown, especially when prepared foods are sold in oversized containers. If a package seems unusually light for its size or the contents appear to move around inside, that can be a clue that the box is doing more to attract attention than to reflect what's being sold.

Still, even when the package weight may be technically disclosed, many shoppers make quick decisions based on box size, tray size, and how full a product looks. Choosing products with simpler, more transparent packaging can also reduce household trash while making value easier to judge.

Where can I learn more?

Countless shoppers have raised similar complaints when packaging or labeling made products appear different than what was inside.

• Another customer blasted a manufacturer over egregious packaging when the container dwarfed the food inside.

• Tyson and other beef brands faced criticism over deceptive antibiotic-free labels on store meat.

• A UN report warned that mislabeled seafood products let supermarket fraud hide in plain sight.

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