The costco hotdog contains 580 calories, approximately 110 of which is the bun. If the bun shrinks by 30%, the calories of the entire dog shrinks by 5.7%%. But also the $1.50 is for a combo that includes a drink of up to 270 calories, so the caloric content of the combo shrinks by 3.9% -- substantially less than the 37% claimed volume loss (which does not account for the drink).
EDIT - The drink also allows for a refill which would add another 270 calories bringing the total to 1120, and the caloric shrinkage down to 2.9%
When looking at protein the meal loses 1 gram out of 23, or 4% loss, which is less than inflation. Good for all the gym rats.
Edit 2 - fixed percentage calculations
Also, it is not possible to buy the hot dog without a soda. So really, people are going for the soda when they get the hot dog, whether they want it or not.
Also, I've bought the hot dog and forgone the soda.
That's why I have percentages for both the dog alone and the combo.
My original point is that by changing what metric and how much of the combo you look at the calculated loss can vary significantly: over an order of magnitude difference between the dog-only volume loss and the refilled drink calorie loss.
lies, damned lies, and statistics.
The option to get water is a meaningless observation that doesn't invalidate the assessment of what you get for the money.
Potato chips are generally very low weight, and include other calorie containing products, such as oil.
But you cannot eat that, so potato chips are a distant second (at least from the products I checked)
And no, the calories in chips added by the oil offset the lesser amount of weight you buy per unit - at least in my locality.
If I just look at calories per dollar, potato chips seem the most cost effective - at least as long as you take the cheapest ones
Pure potatoes are somewhere around 200-500 calories per dollar, cheap potato chips are around 1000/dollar
Pure noodles or rice might be even better, I didn't check those admittedly.
$1.50 in 1984 money is $3.21 in today's money.
https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/
I'd love to see a photo from 1984 though! Seen old photos from fast food chains where the same food items used to be much larger.
Kid: Dad, why is my sister named Rose?
Dad: Because your mother really like roses.
Kid: Oh, ok, thanks Dad!
Dad: No problem, Costco Hot-Dog!
IMO, Canada has the superior bun. They also have the smoked meat sandwich, but their pizza is ass.
Indexed to the USD, the price is actually dropping in the past few years in Canada, and we still have the option of a polish dog (and poutine, and smoked meat sandwiches).
Shrinkflation is a thing and the bun has been its victim. They could slowly shrink the sausage now until it fits the bun again.
Afaik, it's location dependent now with the default being no.
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/27/the-reason-why-costco-is-ban...
I would say don't get hung up over it but judging by your karma I'm more surprised your commenting about it.
Now off to my PCP for a Polish Dog with Mustard and Onions Prescription...