A house clearance cleaner in the UK made an unexpected discovery when she found an unopened Mars Bar from 1991 under a house's floorboards. The 35-year-old chocolate bar quickly went viral online because of its surprising size compared to today's version.
When held side by side with a modern Mars Bar, the vintage bar was noticeably larger. The 1991 wrapper showed that the bar weighed 62.5 grams. In comparison, a standard single Mars Bar today weighs only 40 grams, meaning the classic chocolate treat has shrunk by more than one-third over the past three decades.
The discovery has reignited public debate about "shrinkflation"—a business practice where manufacturers reduce the size or weight of a product while keeping the price the same or even increasing it. Photos of the two chocolate bars gained over a million views online as shoppers expressed surprise at how much smaller their favorite snacks have become over time.
In response to the viral attention, manufacturer Mars, Incorporated explained that its bar sizes and packaging have changed over the last 35 years. A company spokesperson stated that updates are made to reflect consumer demand alongside wider market factors, including manufacturing costs and the price of cocoa.
Mars Bars have been produced in Slough, Berkshire, since 1932, when they were first made by hand. Today, parent company Mars, Incorporated owns many famous chocolate and food brands, including Galaxy, M&Ms, Maltesers, and Whiskas.