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The New York Times has an article out today on how food companies, in response to rising raw material costs, are surreptitiously passing along price increase to consumers by shrinking food packages--pumping more air into chips bags, say, or manipulating the bottom of peanut butter jars to render them indistinguishable from the old containers. The companies are pitching their products as "'greener' (packages good for the environment) or more 'portable' (little carry bags for the takeout lifestyle) or 'healthier' (fewer calories)," the Times explains.

The Consumerist, it turns out, has been tracking shrinking consumer packages for years through its recurring "Grocery Shrink Ray" feature. To prepare you for your next trip to the grocery store, here are some of the products that the Times and the Consumerist mention:

Kraft crackers Kraft's new "Fresh Stacks" packages for Nabisco Premium saltines, Ritz crackers, and Honey Maid graham crackers have 15 percent fewer crackers than the normal boxes but cost the same amount. But wait, it's ok! Nabisco's website explains that "we've taken the same great RITZ you already love and shrunk down the package so it will fit anywhere, from your home to your car to your office. And we've put the crackers in smaller stacks (only 15 each!), so not only is it easier to take them with you, but you'll only open what you need, having fresh-tasting crackers each time."