Did you know that the size of a spice tin can make a significant difference? Some well-known spice companies, like McCormick & Co., are facing lawsuits over the size of their ground pepper tins.
Watkins Inc., a smaller company, claims that McCormick reduced the amount of pepper in their tins by 25% while keeping the packaging size the same.
But why does this matter? It’s about fairness and transparency. Watkins claims that McCormick is misleading consumers by making them believe they’re getting more pepper in each tin than they actually are. McCormick’s tins are opaque, so you can’t see how much pepper is inside. In contrast, Watkins offers smaller tins with the same amount of pepper as McCormick’s.
Watkins argues that McCormick is using deceptive packaging to make their product appear better than it is. Instead of improving their product, McCormick is relying on misleading packaging. Although McCormick’s tins are labeled as containing 6 ounces of pepper, the writing is small and difficult to read quickly.
This practice, known as “slack-filling,” is considered dishonest and violates consumer protection rules. By not filling the tins completely, McCormick is shortchanging customers, affecting both the value for money and the ability to compare products accurately.
So, when you’re shopping for spices, pay close attention to the packaging. Don’t be misled by the tin’s size—what matters is the actual content!