Surging cost of cocoa leads UK shoppers to shell out more for smaller Easter eggs

While inflation has slowed to 2.8%, food prices have continued to rise, including a 16.5% increase in the cost of chocolate. Photograph: Alan Edwards/Alamy

Shoppers are shelling out for smaller eggs this Easter as shrinkflation takes a bite out of the favourite seasonal treat.

The price of eggs made by big names including Cadbury, Mars and Terry’s have risen by as much as 50% in some cases while some have also shrunk in size, according to research by consumer champion Which?. When pack sizes are reduced and prices stay the same, or even go up, it is often dubbed “shrinkflation”.