Spice lovers, did you know that the size of a spice tin can make a big difference? It’s true! And believe it or not, some famous spice companies, like McCormick & Co., are facing lawsuits because of this very issue.
A small company called Watkins Inc. has accused McCormick of reducing the amount of pepper in their tins by 25%, while keeping the tin size the same. This means that even though the tins may look identical, you’re actually getting less pepper than you expect.
But why does this matter? Well, it’s all about fairness and honesty. Watkins alleges that McCormick is essentially trying to trick people into thinking they’re getting more pepper than they really are. McCormick’s tins are not transparent, making it impossible to see how much pepper is inside. On the other hand, Watkins sells smaller tins with the exact same amount of pepper as McCormick’s.
Watkins argues that McCormick is using deceptive packaging tactics instead of focusing on improving their product. Even though McCormick’s tins claim to contain 6 ounces of pepper, the small and hard-to-read font makes it difficult for consumers to notice right away.
This deceptive practice, known as “slack-filling,” is viewed as dishonest and violates consumer protection rules. By not filling their tins to the brim, McCormick is shortchanging customers without their knowledge. Not only does this affect the value for money, but it also makes it challenging to accurately compare products.
