... about "hidden" ingredients

[LurkingHusband]

Nosing in the supermarket last week, and idly noticed this:

www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries/pulses-beans/jamie-oliver-mustard-pearl-barley-250g

Interest whetted, I picked up the packet, and read front:

"Marvellous mustard pearl barley with borlotti beans wholegrain mustard and thyme"

feeling peckish, I turned over, and read the re-stated large print description on the rear:

"A blend of pearl barley, borlotti beans and wholegrain mustard"

Ooooooh, nice. I thought. However, being old and ugly (and a fussy eater), there was one more piece of research to do. Read the ingredients:

Pre-Cooked Barley (48%) (Pearl Barley (contains Gluten), Water), Rehydrated Borlotti Beans (28%) (Borlotti Beans, Water), Artichokes, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Red Wine Vinegar (contains Sulphites), Wholegrain Mustard (Water, Vinegar, Mustard Seeds, Natural Flavouring, Salt, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Antioxidant (Potassium Bisulphite), Spices) (2.6%), Honey, Thyme, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Salt, Ground Black Pepper, Thickener (Xanthan Gum)

Artichokes ? Kept that quiet didn't they ?

Anyway, I guess my AIBU is to feel that ingredients are sometimes "hidden" ? As in not mentioned anywhere in the "headline", but lurking to upset the unwary ? Worst example was a fish pie I had years ago in a supermarket cafe. Nowhere in the blurb did it mention that onion was the 3rd ingredient after fish and [mashed] potato (and who cooks fish with onions anyway). Until with unerring accuracy I located it with my first mouthful.

[Teabagbeforemilk]

There are rules all about labelling. Usually you call it a name and it has to meet certain criteria. So mushroom soup can have very little mushroom in as long as it tastes of mushroom
There is no way a company witll name it with every ingredient in its title. I am currently eating pecan pie peanut butter, it doesn't actually have pecan pies in it.

Yabu because it's not reasonable to put every ingredient in its name. That's what the ingredients list is for.

Coming from a food background I would be shocked if a fish pie had no onion in it

[ouryve]

To be honest, I'm more surprised that you're shocked by the presence of artichokes (actual food) than xanthan gum (goo extracted from rotten cabbage).

[whothehellknows]

Hold up, Teabag! You're eating what, now?

[MissPenelopeLumawoo2]

It must be a very small amount though, so why would they mention it in the description? it is mentioned in the ingredients so I really don't get what the problem is. It is only artichokes, not some chemical additive! Also why would onion be an issue in fish pie??

[FurtherSupport]

Yes, how/why do you make fish pie without onions?

Another who finds the artichokes one of the least off-putting things on that list

[LurkingHusband]

There is no way a company witll name it with every ingredient in its title

I'm not an idiot. I know that. However, my gripe is the way "artichoke" (greater ingredient by mass) is omitted from the title, whilst "mustard" (less mustard than artichoke) is prominently mentioned. Which happens enough times for me to be extra vigilant ...

[mrsmilkymoo]

I do get where you're coming from, because I remember once buying a sandwich for a long haul flight which was labelled cheese and coleslaw. On the flight I opened my sandwich, ran my eye over the ingredients and saw that it unexpectedly contained apple, which I'm allergic to. I would have preferred it to have been called a cheese and apple coleslaw sandwich!

Omitting a key ingredient from the name is annoying but I learnt my lesson to always check the ingredients first!

[Discopanda]

teabag IBU because all I can think about now is how I can get my mitts on pecan pie peanut butter!

[MissPenelopeLumawoo2]

But presumably the mustard is the stronger flavour, so that is why it is listed in the main title. It will taste of mustard, not artichoke.

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

I guess because it tastes of mustard but not artichoke? So if they omitted mustard from the title and then it tasted of mustard (a very strong taste) people would probably be more annoyed.

[Snoozybird]

Presumably the artichoke flavour would be a base note of the sauce whilst the mustard, though technically present in a smaller quantity, would be a much more dominant flavour.

Having said all that I wouldn't touch any of Jamie Oliver's stuff anyway just because he's an insufferable twit.

[MrsTedCrilly]

I ordered a ham salad sandwich in an independent cafe once and it came with hard boiled egg slices in! No mention of it at all on the menu..

[Teabagbeforemilk]

Whothehell Pecan pie peanut butter.....its yummy!

[Teabagbeforemilk]

Sorry you were probably looking for additional info. Check out Protein Pick n mix. Online store.

[Teabagbeforemilk]

As I said OP, its to with flavour too. Mushroom soup can contain very little mushroom but be called that because that what it tastes of.

I wasn't saying you were an idiot. Its to do with flavours. Products undergo taste testing for things like this. The name is picked on what it tastes of.

[LurkingHusband]

I guess because it tastes of mustard but not artichoke?

Oh, fair enough ! (Wonders what's the point of putting artichoke in it then ?)

[MothershipG]

Is it this one? Teabag, Hognuts?

[Teabagbeforemilk]

No idea why it has posted comment from another thread ignore the above post. I dropped my laptop

[paulapompom]

at snoozy.
I don't eat fish ( or meat) but onion and fish dosent sound right to me.
Think I've missed the point, Sorry op. X

[Teabagbeforemilk]

Yep thats the one!

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

You think that's bad OP?..,
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/feb/21/a-feast-of-engineering-whats-really-in-your-food

[LurkingHusband]

I wasn't saying you were an idiot. Its to do with flavours. Products undergo taste testing for things like this. The name is picked on what it tastes of.

This is AIBU .

Thing is, my foodstuff fussiness is as much to do with texture as taste. I might not find artichoke too offensive (memories of father eating artichoke hearts from the jar). However I'm really squeamish about crunchy vegetables ....

[Teabagbeforemilk]

I have food issues too. About texture. so i get where you are coming from.

[Snoozybird]

I love the irony of lurking artichokes upsetting the OP