I Have Heard of Downsizing, But Even Matzah?

Even though my car was hit over the weekend, this past Sunday was a very happy day, for it marked the end of Passover. I truly enjoy some elements of Passover, namely the Seder and hanging out with friends, but this year, I noticed something was different with the matzah. No, they haven’t found a way of making matzah taste good, which if anyone wants to make a bazillion dollars, they should find a way of doing that. Rather, the size of the matzah that is being sold has gotten smaller, and the price has continued to get higher. Because we purchased so many boxes of matzah (from regular to egg to grape), I noticed this trend from two of the major matzah manufacturers: Streit’s and Manishevitz. I realize that the economy is tight, but did they really need to shrink the size of the matzah. I highly doubt that changing the size of the matzah is encouraging us, the “afflicted people,” to buy more matzah. So maybe they figure they have less cost and could make more of a profit. The more I think about this, the more I wonder whether my friend’s five-package of matzah, which in fact only contained four full boxes of matzah, was an accident or maybe intentional. As he points out, what are the ramifications of such an action? Are customers really going to call up and demand a new box of matzah, especially after Passover?

The good-natured person in me, which contrary to some people’s opinion does exist, says that this has to be an honest mistake. But then I think about Coca-Cola. Every year Coca-Cola comes out with yellow caps that designate certain bottles of their Coke and Diet Coke as being Kosher for Passover. While I understand the need for Kosher for Passover Coke, because it usually contains corn syrup (which some Jews cannot consumer during Passover), I am unsure of why there has to be a Kosher for Passover Diet Coke. When I was discussing this a few years ago with one of my friends whose relatives once worked at a Coca-Cola factory, they said that Coca-Cola brings someone into the factories where they re-kosher all of the equipment and ban all employees from eating leaven products in the production site. However, this raises a completely new series of questions. Does this mean that employees could generally eat leaven products, or anything for that matter, in the production site any other time during the year? What if they wanted to eat a ham and cheese casserole, is that okay? The older I get and the more I think about it, the more dumbfounded on the explanation. I do understand that there is a need for some that certain products must be certified as Kosher for Passover, and maybe there is an extra piece of mind for products like Diet Coke, which do not normally contain any banned Passover substance. (I admit that I did run out and will in the future run out to purchase Diet Coke with yellow caps.) However, then I wonder why there are products like Kosher for Passover soap? It has been many years since I have been told that my mouth would be washed out with soap, but I guess maybe some adults like the taste? While I say this is in all sincerity, I do realize that there is religious support, namely the statements of Biur Halacha, which provide that chometz items should not be used during Passover, even if they are not consumed. But then, if the economy continues as it is, and people convert their cars to using corn products as gas, does that mean that people should not drive during Passover?

I realize I have digressed from my original point, and I apologize, but you I think these products are examples of a tight economy where people will do anything for a quick buck. As it is, the economy is shrinking. How and when it will turn around is unknown, but I hope that my smaller matzahs have helped. Because while I definitely had my fair share of matzah, and no I do not need any more, I definitely noticed that the portions have gotten smaller.