If you grew up in Australia, chances are you’ve had your fingers adorned with bright orange Cheezels at some point—maybe even used them as makeshift rings before gleefully munching them off.
For many, Cheezels aren’t just a snack; they’re a rite of passage, a nostalgic treat that brings back memories of childhood parties, school lunchboxes, and cheeky after-dinner nibbles.
But lately, a growing chorus of Australian foodies is asking: what’s happened to our beloved Cheezels?
The shrinkflation saga: Are Cheezels getting smaller?
It all started with a simple question on social media ‘Ask An Australian’ thread: ‘Has anyone noticed that Cheezels no longer fit over your finger?’ For many, this was more than a passing observation—it was a sign of the times.
The term ‘shrinkflation’ has been thrown around a lot lately, as manufacturers quietly reduce product sizes while keeping prices the same (or even raising them). Cheezels, it seems, are the latest victim.

One passionate snack lover lamented, ‘Ruining the best part of eating Cheezels, sliding as many as you can over your fingers then eating them one by one without chewing your finger off.’
The tradition of proposing with a Cheezel—yes, that’s a thing—may now be lost to history.
‘Cheezels should be constantly reviewing finger sizes in Australia and making their product to suit,’ they joked.
Of course, not everyone was convinced. Some cheeky commenters suggested the problem wasn’t with the Cheezels, but with our fingers.
‘Are you sure it’s not finger expansion?’ one quipped, blaming years of Cheezel consumption for the change.
Others pointed out that most of us last wore Cheezels as rings when we were kids, so perhaps it’s our hands that have grown, not the snacks that have shrunk.
But the debate didn’t end there. Parents chimed in, noting that even their toddlers struggled to fit Cheezels on their tiny fingers.
‘I did notice this when my toddler couldn’t even fit one on her tiny fingers,’ one parent shared, suggesting that maybe, just maybe, the rings really are smaller.
A change in flavour: Is it all in our heads?
Size isn’t the only thing under scrutiny. Some Cheezels fans have taken to social media to complain that the flavour just isn’t what it used to be.
‘They are now awful—small rings and chewy,’ one disappointed customer wrote on social media, calling the new Cheezels ‘really disappointing’.
So, what’s going on? According to Snack Brands, the company behind Cheezels, nothing has changed.
‘We can say with confidence that we haven’t changed the size or flavour of Cheezels—they’ve been the same size/shape/flavour for as long as we’ve been making them,’ said Marketing Director James Deysel. He even joked that as we get older, ‘the size of the rings get suspiciously smaller.’
However, there may be a kernel of truth to the flavour complaints. In 2019, Snack Brands switched to canola oil for all their products, which could subtly alter the taste and texture. For those returning to Cheezels after years away, the difference might be more noticeable.
Putting Cheezels to the test
To get to the bottom of the mystery, 9honey Kitchen did a taste test of the latest Cheezels.
The verdict? ‘You can only fit them on the top of your finger now,’ one tester said.
Others agreed they were ‘less flavoursome’ and ‘not as cheesy therefore not as messy’.
For many, the signature orange dust—the stuff that left your fingers gloriously stained—seems to have been dialled down.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Cheezels have been experimenting with new flavours, including a recently launched Chicken variety.
The reviews have been positive, with some saying they’re ‘like a cheesy chicken’ and others comparing them to Chicken Twisties, but with a subtler flavour.
Over the years, Cheezels have also come in special editions like Hot Rods (cheesy jalapeño), Nacho, Chilli Cheese, and Cheese & Bacon.
Cheezels by the numbers: Still an Australian favourite
Despite the controversy, Cheezels remain a staple in Australian pantries. First sold in 1971, they’ve been around for over half a century.
In the past year alone, Australians have bought more than 18.2 million packets—an impressive 2.3 million kilos of cheesy goodness. Tasmania leads the nation in Cheezel consumption, with Victorians not far behind.
Is it all just nostalgia?
There’s also the question of nostalgia. Our taste buds and memories are powerful things. Foods we adored as children often seem different when we revisit them as adults.
Maybe it’s the recipe, maybe it’s the oil, or maybe it’s just that nothing tastes quite as magical as it did when we were seven years old, fingers covered in orange dust.
So, what do you think? Have you noticed Cheezels shrinking or losing their cheesy punch? Or do you think it’s all in our heads (or our growing fingers)? Have you tried any of the new flavours, and do they live up to the original? We’d love to hear your Cheezel stories, memories, and taste test results in the comments below!
Also read: This $3 Coles find is sparking a wave of nostalgia among shoppers