I'm in Idaho here, I also noticed the change with the last bag I bought. Like you I assumed a bad batch but maybe they changed the food itself. Which sucks because I also use 1/2 hardware to feed. I have found packing it tight into the hopper works initially but if the mice figure it out, which several have, they easily just remove all the pieces from the hopper and scatter it all over the tank. It's too bad no one nearby sells Mazuri rodent food, or I would really consider swapping to it now.