It's been about 11/2 years since Kraft introduced several varieties of its shredded cheeses blended "with a touch of Philadelphia" cream cheese "for extra creaminess."

At the time, Mr. Tidbit noted (with a touch of surprise) that although it was a new product (which almost always means it's more expensive), the 8-ounce bags of the new shredded cheese mixtures that include Philadelphia cream cheese didn't cost any more than the 8-ounce bags of the versions that don't.

Then he realized that, ounce for ounce, Philadelphia cream cheese sells for about two-thirds the price of the regular Kraft shredded cheeses, so the combination product should cost a little or a lot less, depending on how much Philly is in there instead of the regular cheese. (Thus endeth the touch of surprise.)

Now Kraft brings us several varieties of its sliced cheeses with cream cheese blended in. The ads, which say it "makes for an amazing melt," feature this unlikely slogan: "Make something creamier-er-er." Mr. Tidbit was ready to make the same price observation he made for the shredded products: Sure, it's the same quantity for the same price, but it should be cheaper.

Except it's not even the same quantity. The bags of the regular sliced cheeses contain 8 ounces of cheese. The bags of creamier-er-er slices contain 7 ounces. And part of that 7 ounces is cream cheese, which is cheaper-er-er.

Iced coffee New from International Delight, maker of a number of flavored coffee creamers, come three flavors of iced coffee "sweet & creamy coffeehouse drink," sold in half-gallon (eight 8-ounce serving) cartons in the refrigerated case. The obvious product for comparison is Starbucks Frappuccino, the 9.5-ounce bottles of which, sold unrefrigerated, are labeled more simply as "coffee drink."

Frappuccino is somewhat sweeter than the International Delight drink; the International Delight drink contains several more thickeners -- and is notably thicker. At one store, where a four-pack of Frappuccino (38 ounces) is $5.69 (15 cents an ounce), the 64-ounce International Delight carton is $3.99 (6.2 cents an ounce).

AL SICHERMAN