To
assist consumers in identifying metric downsizing, we present a Consumers'
Guide to Downsizing. Supermarkets periodically provide shoppers with "handy"
cut-out-and-keep conversion cards with slogans such as "Happy to help you move
to metric". We thought it would be more useful to provide shoppers with a guide
to metric conversion as actually applied:
| Customary packaging |
Metric
"equivalents" |
Actual
New Sizes |
| |
|
|
| SOLID
MEASURES |
|
|
| 16oz |
450g or
420g or 400g |
15.9oz
/ 14.8oz / 14.1 oz |
| 15oz |
410g /
400g / 392g |
14.5oz
/ 14.1oz / 13.8oz |
| 10oz |
280g /
250g |
9.9oz /
8.8oz |
| 8oz |
225g /
220g / 200g |
7.9oz /
7.7oz / 7.0oz |
| 5oz |
140g |
4.9oz
|
| 4oz |
110g /
100g |
3.9oz /
3.5oz |
| 2oz |
55g /
50g |
1.9oz /
1.76oz |
| 1oz |
25g |
0.88oz |
| |
|
|
| FLUID
MEASURES |
|
|
| 1
pint |
550ml /
500ml |
0.97
pint / 0.88 pint |
| 10 fl
oz |
280ml /
275ml / 250ml |
9.9 fl
oz / 9.7 fl oz / 8.8 fl oz |
| 5 fl
oz |
140ml |
4.9 fl
oz |
How to use the Shoppers' Real Metric Conversion Chart:
look up metric quantities found on product packaging in the middle column.
Compare these to the first column to see what the weight may have been when
sold in traditional sizes. Look to the third column to see what the weight is
now. Write a polite letter to the retailer or producer, asking them to confirm
whether quantities have been decreased and, if so, whether prices were
decreased, also. Products that are under current
threat of downsizing include milk (568ml/1pint to 500ml), sausages
(454g/1lb to 400g), and sliced meat (4oz/113g to 100g).