Tasty Toobs fans fuming over changes to beloved snack: 'Half the size'
Baffled shoppers are taking to social media to share their thoughts on alleged changes to the beloved Aussie snack, Tasty Toobs.
One shopper shared a post to the Facebook group Markdown Addicts Australia, where she asked fellow Toobs enthusiasts whether they too had noticed the popular snacks had shrunk in recent months.
“When did Toobs' size decrease or could it be just the processing of the different batches being made?” the confused shopper wrote in her post.
Alongside the post, the woman shared a photo of the packet of Tasty Toobs she had bought from Big W for $4.
In the photo, the woman holds one of the tangy, tomato-flavoured snacks between her fingers, which appears smaller than the Tasty Toobs printed on the packet.
Fellow shoppers were quick to respond to the woman’s theory in the comments, with many saying they are “half the size” they used to be.
“I thought this the other day too! And the shapes were all mismatched,” wrote one shopper.
“Shrinkflation... the company changes the sizing but keeps the price the same,” wrote another.
“They ruined them. Like wtf are these fruit loop-sized solid things that don't dissolve on the roof of my mouth?” said a third.
While several others pointed out that they lack the iconic tangy flavour of the original Tasty Toobs many Australians grew up eating by the truckload.
“They tasted different from what I remember. These tasted like tomato sauce,” wrote one disappointed woman.
“Love them, but now they just lack the flavour they once had,” said another.
Smith’s confirm changes to Australian-made Tasty Toobs
A spokesperson for Smith's Snackfood Company, who are responsible for manufacturing Tasty Toobs, told Yahoo News Australia that there have been “slight variations” to the original Tasty Toobs.
“To keep up with popular demand and ensure that passionate fans can get their hands on the product, Tasty Toobs started producing the snack in Australia late last year,” said the spokesperson.
The spokesperson explained that when Tasty Toobs were re-launched for a third time last year, they were solely manufactured overseas to get them back on Aussie shelves as soon as possible.
“Now, the product is made between Australia and overseas, in order to keep up with demand,” they said.
However, the move to Australian-made products only affects NSW and Queenslanders – which is welcome news for all other states.
“There is a slight variation between the two – the Australian-made product has a firmer bite and is slightly smaller in size but still has the same great Toobs flavour,” they insisted.
Woolworths introduces new rule as Tasty Toobs fly off shelves
Popular Kmart toy sold out after warning over dangerous trend
Customer’s surprising find in Smith’s chips packet: 'I want a refund'
Tasty Toobs fly off shelves after return in 2021
After being removed not once but twice from Aussie shelves, Smith's announced the return of Tasty Toobs back in June 2021.
The cult favourite was first discontinued in 2001, but returned to shelves in 2007 only to be dropped a second time in 2015.
However Smith’s executives saw the error of their ways after customers demanded that they bring back the popular snack.
Nearly 10,000 Tasty Toobs fans signed a petition on Change.org encouraging Smith's to bring back the beloved snack, which proved to be successful.
Since their re-release in late-July 2021, Toobs have flown off the shelves, with one Woolworths store placing restrictions on purchasing the chips during lockdown. Woolworths Chester Hill was forced to instate a limit of four Tasty Toobs packets per customer after they were snapped up by shoppers in record time.
Meanwhile, nationwide Tasty Toobs shortages in recent months also prompted cunning shoppers to begin selling them online for up to $30 a packet.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
