(NewsInsights.org) – Sesame Street characters like Big Bird, Elmo, The Count, and Cookie Monster have taught children about reading, math, history, and various subjects for over 50 years. Sometimes, the characters have even dealt with controversial subjects, like health crises and vaccines, in ways children can understand but slanted with a decidedly progressive viewpoint. On Monday, March 4, Cookie Monster took to social media to bemoan the economic phenomenon of shrinkflation affecting his cookie supply.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Cookie Monster wrote, “Me hate shrinkflation! Me cookies are getting smaller.” He punctuated the post with a pensive face emoji.
Me hate shrinkflation! Me cookies are getting smaller. 😔
— Cookie Monster (@MeCookieMonster) March 4, 2024
Fortunately, being the light-hearted Cookie Monster he is, he added, “Guess me going to have to eat double da cookies!” in a second post.
Guess me going to have to eat double da cookies!
🍪🍪— Cookie Monster (@MeCookieMonster) March 4, 2024
Shrinkflation refers to retailers charging the same price for smaller packages or quantities of items. In effect, retailers charge more per unit weight or volume of the product as packaging shrinks while the price remains the same.
Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), the chair of the Children and Families subcommittee, released a report on shrinkflation in December 2023. For instance, it detailed how Oreos have increased in price by 26.4% since 2019 while reducing the number of cookies in each package by 9.8%.
The post caught the attention of several lawmakers on Capital Hill, including Senators Casey, Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), who responded to the post. Additionally, the White House answered Cookie Monster’s post using a classic Sesame Street alphabet lesson by writing, “C is for consumers getting ripped off.” The White House post said President Joe Biden had called on companies not to take advantage of citizens to increase corporate bottom lines.
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre even asked Cookie Monster to make a guest appearance in the White House briefing room “ASAP!” in a post after an extended discussion about the character’s shrinkflation lament during Monday’s press conference.
Moreover, Cookie Monster appears to have a valid protest. Still, someone might want to check the math on his solution of eating twice as many cookies.
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