MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Chip Bags Have So Much Air In Them
One of the most disappointing things in the world is to rip into a bag of chips only to find an empty air pocket where your snack should be. Why does it always seem like chip bags are half empty?
Well, there’s actually a reason that that extra space is left open in the package. “Slack fill” is what chip manufacturers call it & it’s an intentional choice made to protect their delicate products from the damage of rough handling during the shipping process. When products are stacked atop one another, crammed into tight spaces, or just jostled around in the back of a delivery truck, “slack fill” acts as an air cushion to prevent your tortilla chips from becoming tortilla crumbs.
Oh, and according to Mental Floss, that’s not just ordinary air puffing up your chip bag, either…it’s actually nitrogen. Because, since oxygen can cause the potatoes to spoil & the oil to go rancid, not to mention that humidity in ambient air makes chips soggy, packages are instead filled with nitrogen gas to help them stay fresh. A trained panel of tasters actually confirmed it in a 1994 food science study. Nitrogen flushing isn’t harmful in any way, since about 78% of the air we breathe is composed of nitrogen already. But, that doesn’t excuse the sheer proportion of space that gas occupies in a bag that’s supposed to be filled with food.
The federal Fair Packaging & Labeling Act of 1966 required manufacturers to clearly indicate the net weight of their product’s contents to prevent customers from being duped by huge-seeming containers on the shelves. But those regulations are rarely enforced. We, as consumers, are terrible at perceiving size accurately, and even the most discerning shoppers usually automatically assume that larger packaging means more product (that is, if you don’t look too closely at the label). So, while some extra space in a bag can help keep potato chips fresh and intact, any more than absolutely necessary could be the company trying to pull a fast one over you. So, always read the label!
Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via Twitter (@AndyWebbRadio), or shoot me an email at [email protected].
BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Berryville Graphics
MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Stores Sell Halloween Candy So Early
The first sign of fall isn’t always colorful leaves or a nip in the air. No, the first sign of fall nowadays is seeing fun-sized candies in black-and-orange wrappers going on sale in stores, up to a month before their holiday’s actual start date. Why do stores start selling Halloween candy so far ahead of Halloween?
You might assume that seeing Halloween treats around Labor Day would turn customers off, but retailers & candy makers insist that isn’t the case. Through clever manipulation, businesses have been able to stretch the candy-buying season (and their profits) as a result. The start of autumn isn’t decided by the calendar or the public, at least not economically. Retailers actually control when shoppers start to get in the Halloween spirit. Because when we shoppers see candy corn & mini chocolate bars at our local stores, that primes us to prepare for the upcoming holiday…even if it’s 90° outside & we’re still shopping for pool party supplies. You might get annoyed momentarily by the premature holiday display, but through the power of suggestion, we’re all more open to picking up some treats on that visit or our next.
So why do companies want people to adopt a fall mindset in mid-August? Not at all surprisingly, the answer is…money. The Halloween season is a lucrative time for candy manufacturers & the stores that sell that candy. They already know we’ll buy a bag or two for trick-or-treaters ahead of October 31st. The trick is getting us to make multiple candy purchases ahead of Halloween. So, by stocking seasonal candy before the actual start of autumn, businesses get people craving (and then buying) Halloween treats earlier in the year than we otherwise would. And that enables companies to artificially tack an extra month onto their most profitable season.
Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via Twitter (@AndyWebbRadio), or shoot me an email at [email protected].
BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Berryville Graphics
Wake Up Crew highlights: September, 16, 2022
House of the Week 9/16/22
Picture perfect and move in ready, this beauty is going to make some new homeowner very happy! Situated on 1 acre, this 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath Colonial is spacious and flooded in natural light. Main level includes a 2 story entry flanked by a formal living room and home office. The formal dining room sits just off the open concept kitchen, breakfast room and family room. The kitchen boasts a center island, pantry and ample counter and cabinet space while the family room features wall to wall carpeting and a gas fireplace. The upper floor hosts the primary suite complete with a vaulted ceiling, walk-in closet and attached bath with dual sinks, a walk-in shower and a soaking tub. Rounding out the top floor are 3 additional bedrooms, all with brand new ceiling fans, and a full hall bath. Plenty of storage and possibilities await in the unfinished basement which offers walk-up access to the rear yard. Additional highlights include the attached garage with a brand new garage door, a new 50 year roof with a transferable warranty, a new sump pump and water system/well pump.