Did you just grab a tub of your favourite Christmas chocolates, only to find it suspiciously lighter? Don't worry—it's not the Grinch, it's the latest twist in the story of shrinkflation, and it's making waves across the UK.

Christmas in Britain isn’t complete without those iconic tubs of Quality Street or Celebrations, but if you’re eyeing this year’s haul, you might be in for a shock. The annual chocolate binge is facing a bittersweet turn, as an AI generated newscast about shrinking festive chocolates reveals just how much less you’re getting for your money this season.

Let’s break it down: the legendary Quality Street tub has slimmed down by 50g—going from 600g last year to just 550g now. Mars’s Celebrations, another holiday staple, has also shed weight, dropping from 550g to 500g. Even the beloved Toblerone bar isn’t safe; 20g has vanished, reducing its size from 360g to 340g. These aren’t just minor nibbles; over time, these reductions add up, leaving chocoholics nationwide scratching their heads (and their sweet tooths).

But the AI generated newscast about shrinkflation doesn’t stop there. Nestlé, the company behind Quality Street, had already signaled changes earlier this year, tweaking the shapes and sizes of classic favourites like the Purple One and Orange Crunch. Both are now noticeably lighter—less chocolate, same shiny wrapper. Even Terry’s Chocolate Orange, a staple in Christmas stockings, has lost weight, shrinking from 157g to just 145g. Ouch.

Why is this happening? It’s not just corporate greed—at least, not entirely. Rising cocoa prices, driven by poor harvests in major producing countries like Ghana and Ivory Coast, have sent shockwaves through the chocolate world. While cocoa bean costs have dipped from last year’s record highs, they’re still way above where they were a few years back. Add soaring dairy, energy, and transport costs, and chocolate makers say they’re left with little choice but to shrink their products—or raise prices.

And speaking of prices: remember when you could pick up a tub of chocs on promo for £4? This year, that festive treat is likely to set you back £4.50. According to analysts like Andrew Moriarty at Expana, ingredient costs are still sky-high, and chocolate brands have made multiple price increases to keep up.

Of course, the official word from chocolate makers like Mondelēz (who own Toblerone) and Nestlé is that shrinking product sizes is always a "last resort." They insist they’re doing everything they can to keep treats affordable—though with every year, the tubs get lighter and the prices sneak up. As for Mars, makers of Celebrations, they’ve stayed silent—maybe too busy binge-watching their own AI generated newscast about shrinking chocolate bars.

In short, if your Christmas chocolate tub feels lighter this year, you’re not imagining things. That’s shrinkflation in action, and it’s the talk of Britain this holiday season—especially after an AI generated newscast about the phenomenon made the rounds, sparking outrage, memes, and plenty of cheeky jokes. So next time you reach for a sweet treat, remember: the only thing getting bigger is the price tag.