Local coffee shop is fibbing about their ingredients.

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

They advertise Nutella milkshakes, cupcakes and soon, Nutella waffle 'sandwiches'. They also do Oreo milkshakes and cupcakes. However, I've seen the shop owner in Aldi quite a lot, he buys tray fulls of the jars of Aldi's Nutoka and loads of packets of their fake Oreos. It is definitely him, his very distinctive work shirt is easily identifiable.

It doesn't really bother me, I'll still go there for my occasional Oreo milkshake, I just think the guy should be honest in what ingredients he's actually using.

Would it piss you off if you thought you buying a product with Nutella/Oreos and it turned out to be the Aldi version instead?

Wouldn’t bother me at all( in principal) unless it didn’t taste nice ( though I can’t actually eat/drink either of those specific items I’m generalising).

I agree with others that they have become the equivalent of sellotape & hoover

ALLERGENS are a big issue though but I’d expect someone with an allergy to check exactly what is in something and not make any assumptions. I’m vegetarian and never make assumptions because places put the oddest things in seemingly ‘safe’ items.

As for ‘reporting to trading standards’ really? do you not think a small cafe is struggling quite enough? All you’re doing is pushing a small business out and making discs for another soulless Nero/Costa/Starbucks - think carefully about which is better and which is more likely to benefit your community.

My worry would be in respect of allergens. My son is allergic to various nuts, but hazelnuts are ok. Nutella is safe for him as their factory doesn't use other nuts. Another hazelnut chocolate spread made by another brand is unlikely to be safe for him. So the cafe owner is potentially opening himself up to trouble.
Honestly it's so fucking hard for people with allergies to eat out, and then you get people like this who make it even more risky.

I would directly ask him next time you're in the cafe, and see what he replies. If he lies, report him. If he's honest, tell him to show that in the menu.

I'm a bit surprised he doesn't get the ingredients wholesale, it would be cheaper.

It's often not. I run a small, premium food business and I've found that ingredients are almost always cheaper bought at Asda than Booker etc. It's noticeably cheaper to buy 4x 250ml lemon juice in Asda than 1x 1L lemon juice in Booker.

While I don't advertise that I go to asda for ingredients, I also don't make claims I can't back up (eg made with British strawberries if asda labels the strawberries as British)

The cafe owner is doing what's known as "passing off" and technically shouldn't be doing it.

However, margins in the food sector are small, and this is just someone trying to make a living to feed his own family. I wouldn't start making a fuss about it.

If the ingredients differ it is a h and s issue. What if someone was allergic to the Aldi products but not originals?

Wait, why would a vegan assume an Oreo MILKshake was vegan just because Oreos are vegan?

Because Oreos are vegan and so if a vegan asked for an Oreo mylk shake made with plant based mylk you have yourself a vegan shake. If it's a different brand of chocolate cookie used to an Oreo it may well have milk powder in it and so not be vegan. That would be unacceptable to most vegans. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Wait, why would a vegan assume an Oreo MILKshake was vegan just because Oreos are vegan?

Presumably they would ask for it to be made with a non-dairy milk. And if they ask for it to be made with Oreos then it's reasonable to assume it would be vegan.

You might point out to the owner that people are depending on him to provide them with correct ingredient information in case someone has allergies. I believe there can be massive fines if the information is incorrect as it means someone may have a reaction or even die as a result (re the young woman who bought a sandwich from Pret and died). It's not as simple as Nutella vs store brand - even if they are very similar they are not identical and that's the danger.

He should at least refer to them as "Nutella-type" or "Oreo-ish" and have the actual packets available for people to see.

@AintNobodyHereButUsChickens there's a place like that by me and close to ALDI !

Using a brand name like that is against trading standards. It’s why in my local pub if you ask for a coke they always say, it’s Pepsi is that OK.

I’d have nothing against substitutes being used but I’d be concerned for allergens. Also ds is autistic and a super taster so if he was expecting a brand and it Was different he’d be likely to go into meltdown.

Most is made in the same factories! I got a multi pack of hoola hoops and they had packs of the ALDI hoola hoops in it too!

I also once saw a dominos staff member buying the Iceland wedges and even admitted they had run out!

It happens ...... everywhere. My child has allergies and I always check in the cafes etc

Isn't it a bit like saying "I'm doing the hoovering" when you are actually using a vax/Dyson? The brand names have now just become a common phrase?

I've never thought of those brand names as being like hoover and the like. Everyone I know talks about 'chocolate spread' rather than Nutella.

I’d only be worried if it led to false assumptions about the allergens in the food. Like if Nutella was dairy free but he was using a dairy containing substitute for example. As long as he’s clear about the ingredients I don’t think it matters.