<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian shoppers can expect to pay as much as 33 per cent more for some Easter eggs compared to last year and receive fewer treats in other products, according to an investigation by Choice.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The leading consumer advocacy group found some products from Cadbury, Nestle and Aldi have decreased in size while the price remained the same or increased </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/finance/shrinkflation-cost-of-living-australia-examples-inflation-consumer-price-index-explainer/ef75298c-6d96-45d6-ad9b-69504899fa14" rel="" target="_blank" title="as a result of shrinkflation"><span>as a result of shrinkflation</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The change comes as a significant increase in the price of cocoa drives up the cost of chocolate products.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/finance/shrinkflation-cost-of-living-australia-examples-inflation-consumer-price-index-explainer/ef75298c-6d96-45d6-ad9b-69504899fa14" rel="" target="_blank" title="The sneaky way food companies are passing on cost increases to you"><strong><span>The sneaky way food companies are passing on cost increases to you</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The study found a 24 pack of Cadbury Dairy Milk hollow chocolate eggs had a recommended retail price of $12.50 last, but a new version of the product released this year contained 22 eggs for an increased price of $15.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That means consumers are paying 31 per cent more per 100g of chocolate than they did last year," CHOICE journalist Liam Kennedy said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Another Cadbury product, the large 340g chocolate egg, has remained $20 but weighed an extra 60 grams last year.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/easter-eggs-shrinkflation-new-choice-study-finds-some-chocolate-eggs-have-been-hit-by-shrinkflation-this-year-as-cocoa-prices-rise/0317326e-64a6-4c2e-a13f-ad8c5a6e5364" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/prices-for-chocolate-eggs-and-bunnies-expected-to-soar-due-to-global-cocoa-shortage/dfce63ff-42a8-44c0-ab76-fd5e413e1998" rel="" target="" title="Chocolate prices expected to rise ahead of Easter"><strong><span>Chocolate prices expected to rise ahead of Easter</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nestle's bags of KitKat-flavoured mini eggs have maintained a price of $3.99 but the product went from 110g to 90g since last February.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The study also found Aldi's packets of Dairy Fine Milk mini eggs have also decreased in size, going from 400g to 300g however the price has remained the same at $5.99.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While the price has remained the same at $5.99, you're now paying 33 per cent more per 100g to get your chocolate fix," Kennedy said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For those who want to identify shrinkflation, CHOICE has recommended shoppers count the number of eggs in their packet and compare it with the number on the packaging.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Chocolate lovers should also keep an eye on the unit price to watch for any change in value and keep an eye out for slogan rebrands such as "new and improved" which appear on products following shrinkage.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"With many consumers still struggling to cover the cost of food and groceries, the last thing people need is the squeeze being put on their Easter favourites," Kennedy said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Queensland University of Technology professor Garry Mortimer told 9News in February consumers could expect to pay more for chocolate products this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Ultimately we've seen the commodity price of cocoa, essentially chocolate, skyrocket in the last 12 to 18 months," Mortimer said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You'd expect to see retail prices lift anywhere between sort of 10 to 20 per cent."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the 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