Is food getting more ****ed? Sweary Ranty McRant!
Discussion
I’ll try TLDR this one.
Waitrose.
Own brand naan. Some funny ingredients but mostly as close as you’d get to home made.
Went out of stock a few months.
Reappeared, a bit different, but now with pea protein, and a few other random processed bits.
Fentimans.
Curiosity Cola. The last bastion of full fat coke that isn’t in plastic bottles and is a UK business etc.
But no, now with herbal extracts means no sugar, now with Stevia, a herbal extract.
FFS what a scammy piece of s
t.
Two examples where they were quite ‘natural’ and now increasingly processed.
My list of easy foods that aren’t full of random st I don’t even know what the fk it is, is dwindling.
I’m at the point now of just wanting to make everything from raw ingredients, but it’s flipping hard to do that for all meals.
Ie, a curry is hard enough to prep, without adding naans to the list.
What is it with manufacturers doing this?
All this processed st plays havoc with my digestive system.
I keep hitting foods like these and wondering why I’m feeling more bloated or more achey or whatever, and it’s often because I find what were once quite ‘normal’ looking on ingredients are now full of ste.
Is it just me or are other people becoming utterly disenfranchised with these convenience foods?
You used to get a really solid range of quality convenience foods but it feels like as time passes it’s all just subverted by st.
Ie, pre-made Pizza with fking palm and other random oils.
How about making it cost a whole 4p more and stock to EVOO you fking dheads!
Fentimans have just lost a customer by feeding me Stevia st on the sly.
I only noticed because I looked at the calories and thought it looked a bit low. A treat, a little boy with a pizza with the kids… and it’s been this st hidden in it.
Whhyyyyy. I’m not a fat fking idiot. fk knows what Stevia does to you but taking the processed equivalent of a bush worth of leaves of Stevia might not be ideal.
Rant over.
Waitrose.
Own brand naan. Some funny ingredients but mostly as close as you’d get to home made.
Went out of stock a few months.
Reappeared, a bit different, but now with pea protein, and a few other random processed bits.
Fentimans.
Curiosity Cola. The last bastion of full fat coke that isn’t in plastic bottles and is a UK business etc.
But no, now with herbal extracts means no sugar, now with Stevia, a herbal extract.
FFS what a scammy piece of s
t.Two examples where they were quite ‘natural’ and now increasingly processed.
My list of easy foods that aren’t full of random s
t I don’t even know what the fk it is, is dwindling.I’m at the point now of just wanting to make everything from raw ingredients, but it’s flipping hard to do that for all meals.
Ie, a curry is hard enough to prep, without adding naans to the list.
What is it with manufacturers doing this?
All this processed s
t plays havoc with my digestive system.I keep hitting foods like these and wondering why I’m feeling more bloated or more achey or whatever, and it’s often because I find what were once quite ‘normal’ looking on ingredients are now full of s
te.Is it just me or are other people becoming utterly disenfranchised with these convenience foods?
You used to get a really solid range of quality convenience foods but it feels like as time passes it’s all just subverted by s
t.Ie, pre-made Pizza with f
king palm and other random oils.How about making it cost a whole 4p more and stock to EVOO you f
king dheads!Fentimans have just lost a customer by feeding me Stevia s
t on the sly.I only noticed because I looked at the calories and thought it looked a bit low. A treat, a little boy with a pizza with the kids… and it’s been this s
t hidden in it.Whhyyyyy. I’m not a fat f
king idiot. fk knows what Stevia does to you but taking the processed equivalent of a bush worth of leaves of Stevia might not be ideal.Rant over.
I finished my last bottle of Fentimans tonight with the kids, with home made F&C.
Reading the bottle, ‘Traditional’, my arse is it traditional. Traditionally it had sugar.
Having now Googled it, it seems it only changed just a few months ago. Thankfully I’ve not consumed much of it or given it to my children.
It’s getting tiresome having to stand and read every fking label these days, and now having to check up on sneaky changes like this by scummy producers like Fentimans, is another thing.
What a crappy way to operate.
Another trip to Waitrose. Another WTF.
They used to do organic coconut oil in a plastic jar with a metal support ring on the lip.
They ended the line a few years back, for some reason. It was well priced and I’d assumed popular.
I just went elsewhere for the coconut oil as Waitrose only otherwise sold small high priced branded jars.
Ie, Booths, Grape Tree, or even Amazon these days, offer large jars at better prices.
Anyway I was in Waitrose and noticed some Duchy organic jars of coconut oil, now glass jars but small, but well priced it seems.
But, reduced to clear.
I’d not even noticed them selling it. I’d have been buying it had I known.
I asked at the customer service desk and they said no idea, but it is now end of line.
How the fk do these idiots operate? Start stop, start stop, remove, rebrand, months of gap.
People just go elsewhere and don’t come back.
I’m genuinely at a loss with these idiots now.
They said to send a message to customer services “have your say”, but I’ve asked many times about products I can’t find etc, like their great avocado butter which just disappeared in 2021, but to no response.
Now their latest naan debacle. I asked via their support and they said it’d be ‘back soon’, then when it is, it’s different… inferior.
Why can’t they just inform consumers?
Does any food brand/reseller truly care about feeding you rubbish these days?
Fentimans and Waitrose, for now, seem content to just change ingredients without informing consumers, and I assume hope you don’t notice their new crap ingredient mix.
Also must note Jordan’s did this with their super berry and nutty granolas, adding in more cheap berries/nuts, but apparently under ‘better taste’
Just put the bloody price up, stop making it crapper ffs!
I can’t believe I’m looking up how to roast different nuts and making my own pissing granola.
Even the ‘good’ brands are fking up their supposed ‘quality’ products.
How can I end up doing the job better for less money? Where the fk does all the money go?
Reading the bottle, ‘Traditional’, my arse is it traditional. Traditionally it had sugar.
Having now Googled it, it seems it only changed just a few months ago. Thankfully I’ve not consumed much of it or given it to my children.
It’s getting tiresome having to stand and read every f
king label these days, and now having to check up on sneaky changes like this by scummy producers like Fentimans, is another thing.What a crappy way to operate.
Another trip to Waitrose. Another WTF.
They used to do organic coconut oil in a plastic jar with a metal support ring on the lip.
They ended the line a few years back, for some reason. It was well priced and I’d assumed popular.
I just went elsewhere for the coconut oil as Waitrose only otherwise sold small high priced branded jars.
Ie, Booths, Grape Tree, or even Amazon these days, offer large jars at better prices.
Anyway I was in Waitrose and noticed some Duchy organic jars of coconut oil, now glass jars but small, but well priced it seems.
But, reduced to clear.
I’d not even noticed them selling it. I’d have been buying it had I known.
I asked at the customer service desk and they said no idea, but it is now end of line.
How the f
k do these idiots operate? Start stop, start stop, remove, rebrand, months of gap.People just go elsewhere and don’t come back.
I’m genuinely at a loss with these idiots now.
They said to send a message to customer services “have your say”, but I’ve asked many times about products I can’t find etc, like their great avocado butter which just disappeared in 2021, but to no response.
Now their latest naan debacle. I asked via their support and they said it’d be ‘back soon’, then when it is, it’s different… inferior.
Why can’t they just inform consumers?
Does any food brand/reseller truly care about feeding you rubbish these days?
Fentimans and Waitrose, for now, seem content to just change ingredients without informing consumers, and I assume hope you don’t notice their new crap ingredient mix.
Also must note Jordan’s did this with their super berry and nutty granolas, adding in more cheap berries/nuts, but apparently under ‘better taste’
Just put the bloody price up, stop making it crapper ffs!
I can’t believe I’m looking up how to roast different nuts and making my own pissing granola.
Even the ‘good’ brands are f
king up their supposed ‘quality’ products.How can I end up doing the job better for less money? Where the f
k does all the money go?Products are constantly reformulated. I seem to remember Kelloggs changing recipes every 6 months reducing salt/sugar
The Fentimans is probably due to the HFSS legislation (High Fat, Salt, Sugar) that came in last October. It dictates where products can be sold and promoted in each shop. Loads of products are being reformulated, stuff will have moved in all shops, and you'll see many lower fat/salt versions like Walkers Crisps. It was termed Boris tax as he pushed it through after he caught covid, and blamed sugar on making him chunky.
In things like swapping out Palm oil for EVOO, it's not going to work for those types of lines. Its not cost based, it's what those products do for consistency and product quality. Palm oil is quite remarkable in terms of reducing overall amount of oil in some products, it's similar to splitting down crude oil, so many uses.
The other point on Coconut oil, same with palm, plenty of movement in the industry on sustainability & sourcing, and lack of supply. There are still loads of suppliers going to the wall post covid due to all the extra costs, so it's going to continue for a while.
The Fentimans is probably due to the HFSS legislation (High Fat, Salt, Sugar) that came in last October. It dictates where products can be sold and promoted in each shop. Loads of products are being reformulated, stuff will have moved in all shops, and you'll see many lower fat/salt versions like Walkers Crisps. It was termed Boris tax as he pushed it through after he caught covid, and blamed sugar on making him chunky.
In things like swapping out Palm oil for EVOO, it's not going to work for those types of lines. Its not cost based, it's what those products do for consistency and product quality. Palm oil is quite remarkable in terms of reducing overall amount of oil in some products, it's similar to splitting down crude oil, so many uses.
The other point on Coconut oil, same with palm, plenty of movement in the industry on sustainability & sourcing, and lack of supply. There are still loads of suppliers going to the wall post covid due to all the extra costs, so it's going to continue for a while.
Look at the list of ingredients on any supermarket loaf. Soy flour. When did that become an essential ingredient in a loaf of bread? How many people know they’re contributing to deforestation as a result? Strange how they don’t have a sticker on the front saying "contains soy flour"…..
On the subject of reformulation absolutely ruining a product, I was reminded of two this weekend.
Original Lucozade - Back in the day, this was almost MEDICINAL in my grandparent's house. Once they had to control the sugar content though, absolutely ruined it. Tastes like watered-down crap now.
Tizer - Does anyone else remember the original red Tizer? Before they turned it into whatever fruit-flavoured abomination it is now?? Once again, destroyed the product. (also a fave in my grandparents house funnily enough)
Original Lucozade - Back in the day, this was almost MEDICINAL in my grandparent's house. Once they had to control the sugar content though, absolutely ruined it. Tastes like watered-down crap now.
Tizer - Does anyone else remember the original red Tizer? Before they turned it into whatever fruit-flavoured abomination it is now?? Once again, destroyed the product. (also a fave in my grandparents house funnily enough)
I recognise the name, but it’s nice to be informed about what you’re consuming.
I’d noticed a bit of bloating after having had it. Given I usually had it on a ‘cheat night’ (hence being happy with the sugar, cost, etc), it’s tough to gauge on the effects on your gut, but finishing the last bottle last night after a decent meal I had cramps and bloating at bed time.
So yes, superb if you’re a fatty who consumes rubbish all the time and is now saved from the calories. Great for them.
But in my view Fentimans aren’t that kind of brand, you’re not having it all the time, you share a bottle four ways on a cheat night and “enjoy” it.
Who gives a crap about calories if you’re having it only occasionally?
Any way, I can now avoid it.
It’s clearly designed for fat people who stuff their faces with rubbish, not for considerate people who enjoy a treat of sugar sensibly.
Quite obviously the ‘sugar hit’ is a thing, which is why humans liked it all along, calories. Honey. Sugar. Energy.
I just don’t get the idea of a sweet treat that isn’t a treat?!
And makes you get cramp. No doubt my gut bacteria is doing something new with it? Gas creation? No idea.
I’d noticed a bit of bloating after having had it. Given I usually had it on a ‘cheat night’ (hence being happy with the sugar, cost, etc), it’s tough to gauge on the effects on your gut, but finishing the last bottle last night after a decent meal I had cramps and bloating at bed time.
So yes, superb if you’re a fatty who consumes rubbish all the time and is now saved from the calories. Great for them.
But in my view Fentimans aren’t that kind of brand, you’re not having it all the time, you share a bottle four ways on a cheat night and “enjoy” it.
Who gives a crap about calories if you’re having it only occasionally?
Any way, I can now avoid it.
It’s clearly designed for fat people who stuff their faces with rubbish, not for considerate people who enjoy a treat of sugar sensibly.
Quite obviously the ‘sugar hit’ is a thing, which is why humans liked it all along, calories. Honey. Sugar. Energy.
I just don’t get the idea of a sweet treat that isn’t a treat?!
And makes you get cramp. No doubt my gut bacteria is doing something new with it? Gas creation? No idea.
Can’t comment n the drinks as I am strictly a Diet Coke person lol
Is the pea protein in the Nann just Gram flour? IIRC a little Gram flour makes a Nann more crispy.
Have you ever tried these Nann? They are about the best supermarket nann I have had.
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/306...
Is the pea protein in the Nann just Gram flour? IIRC a little Gram flour makes a Nann more crispy.
Have you ever tried these Nann? They are about the best supermarket nann I have had.
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/306...
ZedLeg said:
Stevia is as natural as sugar, it just doesn’t taste as nice.
Just because an ingredient has a name you don’t recognise, doesn’t mean it’s some kind of lab grown nightmare.
Yep, I understand the annoyance with things like palm oil, soy and bambo fibre etc, they are totally unnecessary. But sugar is hardly natural, it's as processed as things come and one of the worst ingredients for health out there.Just because an ingredient has a name you don’t recognise, doesn’t mean it’s some kind of lab grown nightmare.
nikaiyo2 said:
Can’t comment n the drinks as I am strictly a Diet Coke person lol
Is the pea protein in the Nann just Gram flour? IIRC a little Gram flour makes a Nann more crispy.
Have you ever tried these Nann? They are about the best supermarket nann I have had.
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/306...
Those really are decent supermarket naans actually.Is the pea protein in the Nann just Gram flour? IIRC a little Gram flour makes a Nann more crispy.
Have you ever tried these Nann? They are about the best supermarket nann I have had.
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/306...
In general, do most of the population care? There are probably only a few types of products I have a look at the ingredients. I looked at a pack of burgers the other day to check the fat content was high enough, I didn't look at any other ingredients though. I don't appear to be affected by anything that's legaly sold as food, beyond the obvious effects of too much fat/sugar etc...
My partner complains sweetners in drinks give her headaches. I can't comprehend a link, never experienced anything like it.
nikaiyo2 said:
Can’t comment n the drinks as I am strictly a Diet Coke person lol
Is the pea protein in the Nann just Gram flour? IIRC a little Gram flour makes a Nann more crispy.
Have you ever tried these Nann? They are about the best supermarket nann I have had.
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/306...
Agreed. The garlic ones are also excellent Is the pea protein in the Nann just Gram flour? IIRC a little Gram flour makes a Nann more crispy.
Have you ever tried these Nann? They are about the best supermarket nann I have had.
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/306...
Silvanus said:
Yep, I understand the annoyance with things like palm oil, soy and bambo fibre etc, they are totally unnecessary. But sugar is hardly natural, it's as processed as things come and one of the worst ingredients for health out there.
Even with stuff like palm oil and soy, it’s the environmental impact that concerns me more than any health scaremongering.I avoid palm oil as much as I can but I’ve been regularly eating loads of soy based foods for years.
Sweeteners in soft drinks is down to the sugar tax. I wasn't a massive fizzy drink consumer but I did like the odd Fentimans or San Pell. Don't drink any at all now because none of them taste very nice due to sweeteners. So in that respect the tax has worked on me.
Those two brands held out for sugar longer than most, but I imagine the combo of rising ingredients costs plus the sugar tax was straining their margins.
Substituting cheaper ingredients to make stuff like flour go further is likely also a cost management issue. I expect we will see a fair bit more of this while food inflation remains so high.
Basically we've had 30yrs of historically fantastic food availability and low cost in this country. It's been fun but the good times have now come to an end, for the foreseeable future at least.
I believe you can still get classic coke with sugar in, but not everywhere sells it. Bit down market though;)
Those two brands held out for sugar longer than most, but I imagine the combo of rising ingredients costs plus the sugar tax was straining their margins.
Substituting cheaper ingredients to make stuff like flour go further is likely also a cost management issue. I expect we will see a fair bit more of this while food inflation remains so high.
Basically we've had 30yrs of historically fantastic food availability and low cost in this country. It's been fun but the good times have now come to an end, for the foreseeable future at least.
I believe you can still get classic coke with sugar in, but not everywhere sells it. Bit down market though;)
I’ve noticed Mr Whippy from ice cream vans is artificially sweetened these days as well. I don’t know which sweetener, but I’m mildly allergic to the new breed put in stuff like Coke Zero, they make me puff up. Had a Mr Whippy the other day, got the same sort of puffiness the day after.
dontlookdown said:
Sweeteners in soft drinks is down to the sugar tax. I wasn't a massive fizzy drink consumer but I did like the odd Fentimans or San Pell. Don't drink any at all now because none of them taste very nice due to sweeteners. So in that respect the tax has worked on me.
Those two brands held out for sugar longer than most, but I imagine the combo of rising ingredients costs plus the sugar tax was straining their margins.
Substituting cheaper ingredients to make stuff like flour go further is likely also a cost management issue. I expect we will see a fair bit more of this while food inflation remains so high.
Basically we've had 30yrs of historically fantastic food availability and low cost in this country. It's been fun but the good times have now come to an end, for the foreseeable future at least.
I believe you can still get classic coke with sugar in, but not everywhere sells it. Bit down market though;)
Litterly every single food shop or convenience store on the planet still sells classic coke. Also pepsi finally gave in and has cut sugar in half so coke is the only one left. Those two brands held out for sugar longer than most, but I imagine the combo of rising ingredients costs plus the sugar tax was straining their margins.
Substituting cheaper ingredients to make stuff like flour go further is likely also a cost management issue. I expect we will see a fair bit more of this while food inflation remains so high.
Basically we've had 30yrs of historically fantastic food availability and low cost in this country. It's been fun but the good times have now come to an end, for the foreseeable future at least.
I believe you can still get classic coke with sugar in, but not everywhere sells it. Bit down market though;)
Ofcourse you can go wild, monster energy has proper amounts of sugar in and so does red bull.
Levi roots used to be epic. Ruined by the sugar cut. Irn bru absoloutely crashed. Used to sell a pallet a week of 2l alone. Dropped to 1 case overnight. Took years but its picking back up here as all the other juice has followed suit with cutting sugar.
Schnapple is the only still drink with proper sugar left. However it costs. Worth it though. Oasis etc all have little sugar and that unnatural taste. Ruined.
However I now sell 1000x more sugar free variants of juice that years ago would struggle to sell before they expired. So it's shifted people from sugar to those sweetners. If that's good or bad I don't know.
dontlookdown said:
I believe you can still get classic coke with sugar in, but not everywhere sells it. Bit down market though;)
M&S did a lovely plain naan which I bought via Ocado, as close to a restaurant naan I’ve had - even if it was covered in Poppy seeds (I think) which went bloody everywhere…
Then it disappeared never to return a couple of months ago and after trying a number of branded alternatives the M&S plain naan re-appears, and what an awful, rubbery, small thing bearing no resemblance to the former version it is.
Back to testing the alternatives I guess…
Then it disappeared never to return a couple of months ago and after trying a number of branded alternatives the M&S plain naan re-appears, and what an awful, rubbery, small thing bearing no resemblance to the former version it is.
Back to testing the alternatives I guess…
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