Page 13 | Alcohol in pudding not clearly displayed

Purpledefector · 2024-04-17T05:49:00+00:00

I need a bit of a reality check - prefacing to say I'm 2.5 years sober - and not sure if this is clouding my judgement a bit. I bought a dine in meal in Sainsbury's and the pudding was ' chocolate hazelnut pots' ' sponge biscuit layered with creamy chocolate hazelnut mascarpone and topped with hazelnuts and chocolate shavings'. When I started to eat it I immediately noticed the very obvious taste of alcohol. Went and checked the packaging and listed within the ingredients was 'alcohol' but this wasn't mentioned or hinted at anywhere else on the product - in the picture or the describing words. I was really surprised by this lack of transparency. Sainsbury's responded to my complaint really quickly - offered me a £10 gift card and said it would be fed back to the packaging department. I said that I felt that didn't reflect the seriousness of the issue and asked for it to be raised with a manager. It has been and their response is the same. It's not sitting right with me, it feels like a huge error - and I want to take it further. What's the general consensus?

TwilightAb · 17/04/2024 14:38

6Y5T · 17/04/2024 06:50

Cooking normally removes the alcohol content, leaving just the flavour

That doesn't stop it potentially being a trigger for someone with a history of alcohol abuse.

Deathraystare · 17/04/2024 14:34

I personally think it should be bleeding obviously written on the packet! Some people do not like alcohol, want to avoid it for a number of reasons including religious.

LeaderBee · 17/04/2024 14:29

Growlybear83 · 17/04/2024 13:35

@marmiteoneverything Actually, consuming 2ml of Marsala wine would cause deep distress to my daughter and son in law as strict practising Muslims. I recognise this when I'm shopping for food thst they might eat when they are in our house and check all food labels carefully. It's not difficult to do.

It's my understanding that it's not Haram if consumed unknowingly.

Calliopespa · 17/04/2024 14:29

IAmThe1AndOnly · 17/04/2024 07:11

It doesn’t sound like the kind of dessert which has been cooked though.

And actually it’s not true that cooking removes all the alcohol. It will remove some, but the length of time you need to cook something for to remove all alcohol is incredibly high, and so if you cook with alcohol there will still be some alcohol present.

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That’s what I thought. I wouldn’t t do any cooking if making that dessert from scratch.

Noyesnoyes · 17/04/2024 14:26

@TeabySea but they've updated it since the first post! Do you not read the updates?

DrJoanAllenby · 17/04/2024 14:25

@ButterCrackers Milbona twin dessert of profiteroles contains alcohol. Sold in Lidl.

I don't think the large family sized one does.

DrJoanAllenby · 17/04/2024 14:23

AmethystSparkles · 17/04/2024 13:53

Sainsbury’s customer service has always been terrible in my experience.

Yet the apologised and gave the op money by way of compensation even though it CLEARLY states 'contains alcohol' on the front of the item and is listed in the ingredients!

Jeeze!

WhichPage · 17/04/2024 14:15

it was on the ingredients so I don’t think there was anything official wrong with the packaging the description you quote was just the ‘marketing speak’ not the definition

unfortunately small print in many food scenarios can be ‘disappointing/excluding’ but does need reading as that is where this stuff is supposed to be stated

those with allergies get the marketing speak the ingredients and then a catch all that very often says allergens may have been on the manufacturers production line/ in facility thereby removing any joy from the absence of said allergen in the ingredients or marketing speak!

Katbum · 17/04/2024 14:10

Cooking would have removed alcohol content - and even if it hadn’t the amount in the pot would be negligible. They have apologised, given you money back and said they will look into their policies. All this over what seems to be a non-issue, or one where you are at fault. You don’t want any alcohol in your products, and the alcohol was a listed ingredient, but you didn’t check. It wasn’t significant enough to feature in the title also suggests there wasn’t much there. It’s like my DH is allergic to nuts, but I don’t expect every product that includes nuts to list that in the title of the product. It’s their obligation to include it in the ingredients list. They did that. You seem a little unhinged over this. What more can they honestly do here? Fly you first class to paradise as an apology? YABVU.

TeabySea · 17/04/2024 14:05

marmiteoneverything · 17/04/2024 13:21

It does say it contains alcohol. On the front of the packet as well as in the ingredients list. Someone helpfully uploaded a picture pages and pages ago and the OP acknowledged that she missed it.

Plus, a tiny trace of alcohol is not the same as a tiny trace of an allergen. As far as I’m aware, nobody has ever died from consuming 2ml of Marsala wine.

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I missed the updating post. If it's on the packaging clearly then all well and good. That was the issue I was concerned about.

TeabySea · 17/04/2024 14:04

Noyesnoyes · 17/04/2024 13:26

It says it on the front of the packet and in the ingredients, what more would you suggest?

It's not an allergen, it's a life choice so people need to check!

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In that case I misunderstood. I though from the OP that it didn't say on the front of the packet.

DoreenonTill8 · 17/04/2024 14:04

AmethystSparkles · 17/04/2024 13:53

Sainsbury’s customer service has always been terrible in my experience.

And haven't they been AWFUL here! Imagine giving her money become she didn't read the box!

iLovee · 17/04/2024 14:00

cerisepanther73 · 17/04/2024 13:34

@Noyesnoyes
No
"Its not just a lifestyle choice"

Its a health reason choice too, in regards of @Purpledefector post,
as alchol consumption can affect your physical health too,
Jaundice shakes and even grim reaper death too,

just like some people like myself who have the kinds of meds for health disorders in which any alchol is prohibited cause of adverse side effects..🚫

If a little bit of alcohol in a pudding will affect your physical health to the point you will suffer with jaundice or die, try reading the ingredients properly?

It said contains alcohol both ON THE FRONT of the packet AND IN THE IMGREDIENTS LIST on the back.

marmiteoneverything · 17/04/2024 13:58

Growlybear83 · 17/04/2024 13:35

@marmiteoneverything Actually, consuming 2ml of Marsala wine would cause deep distress to my daughter and son in law as strict practising Muslims. I recognise this when I'm shopping for food thst they might eat when they are in our house and check all food labels carefully. It's not difficult to do.

So it wouldn’t kill them. Which was the point I was making.

Whatayear2023 · 17/04/2024 13:53

I had to read the ingredients twice as didn't notice alcohol at quick glance.

AmethystSparkles · 17/04/2024 13:53

Sainsbury’s customer service has always been terrible in my experience.

Noyesnoyes · 17/04/2024 13:50

Growlybear83 · 17/04/2024 13:35

@marmiteoneverything Actually, consuming 2ml of Marsala wine would cause deep distress to my daughter and son in law as strict practising Muslims. I recognise this when I'm shopping for food thst they might eat when they are in our house and check all food labels carefully. It's not difficult to do.

But they'd live? Yes?

Noyesnoyes · 17/04/2024 13:49

cerisepanther73 · 17/04/2024 13:34

@Noyesnoyes
No
"Its not just a lifestyle choice"

Its a health reason choice too, in regards of @Purpledefector post,
as alchol consumption can affect your physical health too,
Jaundice shakes and even grim reaper death too,

just like some people like myself who have the kinds of meds for health disorders in which any alchol is prohibited cause of adverse side effects..🚫

Well read the front of the packet and the ingredients then 🤷‍♀️

budgiegirl · 17/04/2024 13:48

It’s a toxin. That’s a good enough reason for bold type labelling

Not according to government guidelines. Only the 14 main allergens have to be in bold. If you had to do bold types labelling for any ingredient that could be a toxin/allergen, the whole list would be bold, which be a worthless exercise.

It had alcohol marked as an ingredient on both the front of the box, and in the ingredient list. That should be enough for anyone trying to avoid alcohol to spot.

diddl · 17/04/2024 13:46

mrsdineen2 · 17/04/2024 11:14

That red ring to make it obvious seems like a weird design choice by sainsburys

😂😂😂😂😂😂

diddl · 17/04/2024 13:45

I agree that it should be in the description.

Unopenedpackofmenssocks · 17/04/2024 13:44

Growlybear83 · 17/04/2024 13:35

@marmiteoneverything Actually, consuming 2ml of Marsala wine would cause deep distress to my daughter and son in law as strict practising Muslims. I recognise this when I'm shopping for food thst they might eat when they are in our house and check all food labels carefully. It's not difficult to do.

Distress is not the same as death.

Growlybear83 · 17/04/2024 13:35

@marmiteoneverything Actually, consuming 2ml of Marsala wine would cause deep distress to my daughter and son in law as strict practising Muslims. I recognise this when I'm shopping for food thst they might eat when they are in our house and check all food labels carefully. It's not difficult to do.

cerisepanther73 · 17/04/2024 13:34

@Noyesnoyes
No
"Its not just a lifestyle choice"

Its a health reason choice too, in regards of @Purpledefector post,
as alchol consumption can affect your physical health too,
Jaundice shakes and even grim reaper death too,

just like some people like myself who have the kinds of meds for health disorders in which any alchol is prohibited cause of adverse side effects..🚫

CactusMactus · 17/04/2024 13:33

Don't worry about the cake.
WELL DONE YOU. 2.5 years sober.... focus on that.