Alcohol in pudding not clearly displayed

If alcohol was included in the list of ingredients, I really don't see the problem. My daughter and son in law are Muslims and I automatically check the ingredients on any ready made food items I buy for alcohol or nutmeg, as I would for ingredient that I want to avoid in food thst I buy. I don't see what more should be necessary.

I don't think gelatine is bolded, is it?

It is clear - it's on the front of the packaging, and listed on the ingredients. OP just missed it.

There are strict laws on how much alcohol can be in a product before it becomes an age restricted product. IIRC any food item with alcohol content greater than 0.5% volume is age restricted. If this pudding isn't age restricted, and from the sainsbury's website it isn't, then it will have a tiny amount of alcohol in it.

As I mentioned earlier, I wouldn’t be at all surprised for a coffee sauce used in a pudding to contain some alcohol. I’d be even less surprised if it said ‘contains alcohol’ on the front of the packet!

We don’t know the taste of alcohol dominates, the OP just said that she could taste alcohol.

I hate fennel and aniseed, but I wouldn’t be complaining if I bought something that stated it contained aniseed and then was too aniseed-y because that’s my personal preference. The shop hasn’t done anything wrong.

Maybe you need to call someone for advice?
I’m not sure who it would come under… maybe food standards? Health?

Yes it is wrong and the fact it contains alcohol should be very clear!
Are the staff on the tills aware that this contains alcohol?would they sell it to an under 18? Are they allowed to sell it to an under 18?
When I worked in retail we had to ID people if buying chocolates with alcohol inside

Very sensible. I just wish they’d add alcohol to that list, as just like gelatine, it’s avoided by a significant number of people. Is gelatine an allergen or is it bolded for people with religious/ethical concerns?

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

But it does say that it contains alcohol unless this is a different pudding, but it does fit the description you posted.

The amount of alcohol in a commercial dessert would be minimal. You are making a mountain out of a molehill. I think Sainsbury's have dealt very fairly with the matter.

”premium products” in the uk often taste of alcohol so my antennae would be up with the pudding described above. And alcohol doesn’t “cook off” enough for people who avoid it due to it being contraindicated for them, religiously forbidden, or a trigger for alcoholic cravings. My girlfriend inadvertently consumed alcohol via a food product while on a course of metronidazole and the results were not pretty.

I love booze myself, just looking out for ppl who aren’t happy to consume it.

It's used as a flavouring, unlike eggs. Why isn't it in the description along with the hazelnut and chocolate? Just say it's brandy flavoured or whatever and it's perfectly clear.

Although tiramisu doesn't specify that it contains alcohol - I guess people are just expected to know that about tiramisu, specifically.

No I fully get that, and I understand why OP is upset. But if you have a dietary restriction, for any reason, you need to be checking labels.

And you need to be particularly careful with some products - if your issue is alcohol, desserts will be one of them (they are for us too - peanuts).

I don't expect to find peanuts in the ingredients of a fruit shoot but I do check it just in case.

For a recovering alcoholic, the issue isn't the risk of becoming inebriated - it's the trigger of the taste of alcohol. It can be very distressing and even trigger a relapse.

(I can have tiramisu and I'm fine with mouthwash containing alcohol - neither trigger a craving in me as I don't associate those with getting drunk. But I don't think I should try a non-alcoholic beer because if it tastes anything like beer, I could be triggered.)

And unlike nuts, eggs, gluten you don't expect to find alcohol in your food. I don't know why the desert in the OP would flavour something with alcohol without specifying that it's one of the main flavours, along with the taste of chocolate and hazelnut.

You should do it the effects of alcohol impact you as much as nuts can impact others. Most foods won't contain alcohol but things like puddings etc. I'd says it's often used as an ingredient ,so it's probably best to double check. It's all there for you.

I quite fancy buying this now!

Looks delish!

No, and that sucks because it sounds like it wouldn't taste very nice! But a dessert tasting shit and a dessert being harmful because it's not properly labelled are two very different things.

One is worth a moan, the other could kill someone.

This dessert is very much in the first category.

The bolded items are the top 14 allergens, this is required under food labelling laws. Alcohol isn't a common allergen and so it isn't (and presumably can't be) bolded.

Well for starters it's a premium product. I'd expect to taste as described.

Sponge cake soaked in coffee sauce topped with chocolate and hazelnut cream and decorated with chocolate and hazelnut sprinkle

Sponge biscuit, layered with creamy chocolate hazelnut mascarpone and topped with chopped hazelnuts and chocolate shavings

Is anything in that description preparing you for the taste of alcohol to dominate?

I’m sorry this happened to you. My husband strictly avoids alcohol so we must scour the ingredients list, particularly when we buy indulgent foods (Brits tend to include minuscule amounts booze in ‘fancy foods’ especially over the Xmas season to make ordinary products seem posh & festive)

My pet peeve is that while other common foods that a decent number of people avoid for health or lifestyle reasons tend to be bolded on the ingredients lists (ie: egg, nuts, gelatin…) but alcohol rarely is. Come on people (looking at you & your decadent ready meals, M&S) I wish alcohol was routinely included in the bolded item list, as although I adore a drink, there are many people who must abstain.

The sale of alcohol is very tightly controlled, so for this product not to be restricted, there won't be much alcohol in it.

Where would you draw the line?

Op replied and said she missed the label on the front. No one needs to be outraged. It was clearly labelled, she just didn't read it.

If a person has a problem with a specific ingredent, be it nuts, daily or whatever, then they should read the ingredients. If they don't, and then find that something is there that they don't like or are allergic to, how is that the shop's fault?

This completely, as a mum to children with multiple allergies, you have to check everything and even things you buy regularly for ingredient changes.

Puddings often contain alcohol.

Which is still beside the point.

The information was on the packaging. OP just didn't bother to read it.

Do you own a cookbook? Alcohol is often used in food.