Not only is it annoying to open a bag of trail mix – or whatever your favorite snack might be – and find the bag half empty, it may be against the law.
Companies selling consumer goods legally cannot underfill packages unless the empty space serves a purpose – for example, if it provides protection for the hidden contents inside – or meets other criteria established by the FDA so as not to be deemed nonfunctional slack-fill.
By contrast, a new wave of class-action lawsuits accuses a number of brands of underfilling products for “no lawful reason.”