Rather than increase prices, companies are putting less food in the bag

FORT WORTH, Texas — Shoppers might not be handing over more money at checkout, but their bags of groceries probably feel lighter as national brand makers put less product in nearly identical packaging.

And it’s likely to become more common. The Agriculture Department says food prices will rise 2 percent to 3 percent in 2011.

In its January issue, Consumer Reports magazine found these reductions:

• Kraft American cheese: 22 slices per packet instead of 24, down 8.3 percent

• Tropicana orange juice: 59 ounces per carton instead of 64, down 7.8 percent

• Classico pesto sauce: 8.1 ounces per jar instead of 10, down 19 percent

• Ivory dish detergent: 24 ounces per bottle instead of 30, down 20 percent

• Hebrew National hot dogs: 11 ounces per pack instead of 12, down 8.3 percent