Seriously, we're using _sachets of sugar_ to convey weight?
Later in the article:
> Two decades ago, he adds, a less sensitive thermal sensor weighing a kilogram cost ten times as much
And:
> A poncho called Noa lite, developed by Fibrotex, an Israeli firm that supplies America’s army, weighs less than 700g
Why do journalists do this?
I know !
It must be a special part of the curriculum at Journalist School.
I imagine the conversation goes something like this....
"No Mr Young Journalist, you cannot use the metric system, and no Mr Young Journalist, you cannot use the imperial system. You must ALWAYS refer to items in relative proportion to some random object of your choice be that swimming pools, football pitches, jumbo jets or bags of sugar ... whatever takes your fancy when you get out of bed that morning, but it must NEVER be metric or imperial measurements".
Anything but metric.
I get the reason - it conveys the notion on an emotional level.
But how many sparrows are that?
Ultimately it's not a huge deal, it is still a little odd though!