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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be hacked off with manufacturers tampering with our food?

118 replies

recklessgran · 14/02/2018 23:37

Is it just me who is fed up with the changes being made to our food in the name of averting the obesity crisis?
Just opened a packet of Nice biscuits to find that they have NO sugar sprinkled on them anymore. That is the last straw!
Can't find ricicles either - apparently withdrawn due to sugar content.
I am not obese and think I am grown up and informed enough to make my own decisions about the food I eat thank you government. In fact, we eat very healthily but like the occasional treat....
Don't believe I'm the only one that feels this way - looking at you Robinsons for withdrawing normal squash - now all sugar free and full of chemical sweeteners.
Just needed a little rant as am outraged at not being allowed to decide for myself.

OP posts:
Luxanna · 15/02/2018 12:13

Another thing, what has happened to the countries most famous baked beans (and all the rest apart from waitrose own brand)?

Thin watery "sauce", transparent, gelatinous, sugary with no discernable tomato flavour.

I remember peppery flavoursome beans in a thick sauce.

Fine, reduce the salt but not to be replaced by extra sugar and what health benefits come from the removal of pepper, spices and tomatoes.

TammySwansonTwo · 15/02/2018 12:14

My son has an endocrine illness, and those who suffer from it have always relied on high glucose foods and drinks when their blood sugar plummets. Unfortunately one by one, all the effective foods and drinks for this are having their sugar content reduced and replaced with artificial sweeteners. It’s a real problem!

WonderLime · 15/02/2018 12:21

@MintChocAddict - apologies, I assumed the difference was well documented now.

Yes, I was referring specifically to Type 2 Diabetes

Argeles · 15/02/2018 12:32

I’m outraged at this too op.

We should all have the right to be able to continue to enjoy the treats that we like. Not everyone binge eats ‘treat’ food, or eats these types of foods everyday, but instead eats them moderately which is how they’re meant to be eaten.

I wish they would stop penalising everyone by changing our treats.

I really think it’s about time that people who develop type 2 diabetes should be strongly encouraged and assisted to go on a diet to reverse the condition (it is highly effective). If this doesn’t work, then they should have to pay for all of their medication and associated treatment (including visits to the chiropodist).

75% of my DH’s family have type 2 diabetes. They are all obese, none of them take any exercise, and they continue to eat and drink copious amounts of sugary products and unrefined carbohydrates everyday - despite knowing full well how dangerous and stupid this is. They take their medication, then fill their faces full of shite. All of them receive free medication for the condition. I think it’s a disgrace. I’m sure if they had to pay for it, it would really make them think twice about trying to reverse their condition, or try to prevent getting like it in the first place.

I hasten to add that I am not exactly svelte at a size 14, (heavily pregnant too), and that I overindulge in treat foods a bit too much at times, but I fully appreciate that it’s my fault, and my responsibility to try and look after my body. I know my body well, and for me, when I take regular exercise I lose weight - this is what I intend to do after birth.

I am sick of the lack of responsibility that so many people take for their health. This goes for binge drinkers, alcoholics, smokers and drug takers too.

VenusOfWillendorf · 15/02/2018 12:41

YANBU - From Wixipdia : A Nice biscuit (pronounced (/ˈniːs/) is a coconut-flavoured biscuit. It is thin, rectangular in shape, with rounded bumps on the edges, and lightly covered with a scattering of large sugar crystals, often with the word "NICE" imprinted on top in sans-serif capital letters.

If you take out the sugar, it's no longer a Nice Biscuit.
You might as well have it lemon flavoured.

RaininSummer · 15/02/2018 12:44

Sweeteners are revolting. I think cutting all sugar and sweeteners) out of things which shouldn't even be sweet is important. Also cutting down - I had to buy cake ready made this week for an even (usually home bake) and it was so mouth achingly sweet that it was unpleasant. So real sugar and other natural sweeteners but a lot less. I want the choice to be able to buy food and drink without artificial stuff.

AntArcticFox · 15/02/2018 12:50

Oh now I really want a Nice biscuit. Thank goodness for my teeth that they effectively aren't on sale any more!

MintChocAddict · 15/02/2018 12:54

wonderlime

Thank you.

It's a bug bear of mine (can you tell?) Wink
The media are the biggest culprits. 'diabetes' thrown around as a collective term and insuating that 'diabetics' are fat, lazy overeaters. It's lazy journalism and unfortunately filters down to the perception that many have of those with the condition whether it be Type1 or Type 2.

It's also worth pointing out Argeles that while there is undoubtedly diet and lifestyle factors linked to the development of type 2 diabetes, people with a good diet and a normal BMI can also develop type 2 diabetes. Genetic factors play a part in it all too.

SilverySurfer · 15/02/2018 15:22

I strongly object to having limits of any form imposed on me by a nanny state (providing they are legal) so shall continue to eat, drink and do whatever I want and will be happy to deal with the consequences, if any.

Idontevencareanymore · 15/02/2018 15:27

Yanbu.

Irnbru have broken my heart. I loved me a tin of that now and again and since they replaced half the sugar with aspartame to avoid the sugar tax it's vile.
I'd happily pay extra for my treat but someone took that choice away without even consulting me (hypothetical me, as in there's no other option between diet and aspartame riddled crap)

liltingleaf · 15/02/2018 16:28

I strongly object to having limits of any form imposed on me by a nanny state (providing they are legal) so shall continue to eat, drink and do whatever I want and will be happy to deal with the consequences, if any.

Silvery, if governments don't set limits what food manufacturers do is add more sugar (or even worse high density corn syrup) just because they have found it sells product. The more they add, the more it sells. People get used to sweeter and sweeter products as tastes adapt. What is more, sugar does not satiate so people buy more full stop to keep getting a 'sugar rush'.

So you if no limits are set the contents of products are simply driven by capitalism. And if people like unhealthy food, the best, the market will be swamped with it.

SilverySurfer · 15/02/2018 18:14

Since when did adults become so weak and pathetic that they became incapable of free will and making their own decisions about what food they choose to buy? Manufacturers may well increase salt or sugar or sweeteners etc in their products but no-one is holding a gun to our heads to force us to buy them.

I have my own standards, I boycott all products containing palm oil and aspartame, I will only buy free range eggs and meat etc. Obviously others will have their own/different standards.

If I occasionally wish to buy a sugar laden treat I will do so without interference from government or busy body know-it-alls.

AntArcticFox · 15/02/2018 18:15

We are back to the unintended consequences of government rules however well meant: lowering sugar (in cans of pop!) leads to a lack of choice for those not wanting artificial sweeteners.

liltingleaf · 15/02/2018 18:57

Of course we can decide not to buy products with too much added sugar. However if the market is swamped with sugar overladen products, products with no sugar or a reasonable amount of sugar are simply not available. I don't want products with artificial sweetener either.

The choice shouldn't be between lots of sugar or lots of sweetener. I want less sweet products full stop. I don't mind a reasonable amount of sugar but a soft drink does not need the equivalent 6 or 12 teaspoonfuls of sugar per glass when one teaspoonful of sugar would be enough. It is like drinking syrup. Similarly pasta sauce does not need any added sugar.

MountainDweller · 15/02/2018 21:50

The only way we can beat the sweetener takeover is by boycotting the products. Manufacturers would soon stop making stuff if nobody bought it.

It is insane that there is almost no choice of sweetener-free squash any more.

Thank goodness the nanny state has yet to take control in mainland Europe!

SilverySurfer · 15/02/2018 22:09

I do agree that we should have a choice apart from products with masses of sugar or sweetners but I think the only way there will be change is when consumers refuse to buy what's on the shelves and hit the manufacturers in the pocket. If enough people did that, then we may see a change.

Unfortunately I have a horrible feeling that the majority of consumers don't really care so my lone boycott against palm oil for example, may not have much impact but I made the decision because 1) it's destroying the orangutan habitat and 2) it makes stuff taste vile - Cadbury's chocolate is a prime example although I'm always encouraged to see it in big piles in Poundworld which hopefully may mean others are boycotting it too.

ChickenPaws · 15/02/2018 22:12

I can’t stomach stuff with artificial sweeteners in. There’s a horrible chemical aftertaste. I avoid them like the plague.

I did manage to find some squash that didn’t have them in, but I found it was way too sweet. It had glucose fructose syrup in which is very bad for health and sickly sweet. That ended up down the sink.

Can’t drink anything very acidic due to bladder irritation. There’s nothing left. I don’t know what I’ll be able to drink in the summer when it’s warm. It’s really miserable just having water Sad

RIP orange high juice

Foods in the supermarket are way too sweet as well. I bought a Sainsbury’s lemon sponge pudding in a little pot to microwave and it was so sickly.

I suppose it’s healthier to make home made foods, but when you’re busy it’s hard to get the time.

Dh bought a bread maker and likes to make bread.

brownelephant · 15/02/2018 22:17

I don’t know what I’ll be able to drink in the summer when it’s warm. It’s really miserable just having water

iced peppermint or lemon balm tea. refreshing & full of flavour. add as much or little sugar as you like.

CatchIt · 15/02/2018 22:19

Yanbu. There are things that need sugar in them or what'd the bloody point?

In the other hand, there's loads of things that have sugar that shouldn't, baked beans, bread (I know you need a bit of sugar for the yeast, but the bread shouldn't taste sweet!) etc.

If savoury manufacturers took unnecessary sugar out, we could keep the sugar in important things like ribena and biscuits.

I hate sweeteners and would rather not have them at all.

brownelephant · 15/02/2018 22:24

bread (I know you need a bit of sugar for the yeast, but the bread shouldn't taste sweet!)

there is enough 'sugar' in the flour to feed the yeast to make bread. but it's quicker, i.e. cheaper to use a little sugar... as so often it comes down to the money.

WorzelsCornyBrows · 15/02/2018 22:29

It's the same with salt.

I had a box of Ritz crackers in my hospital bag when I had dd1 5 years ago. After awful 36 hour labour, during which I wasn't allowed to eat because of risk of csection, I was famished. Staff were busy so I didn't get my tea and toast, so asked DH to pass me the crackers. Had one, absolutely no salt on it. To say I was enraged doesn't even come close. They taste shit now.

Crispbutty · 15/02/2018 22:43

I saw sugar free haribo yesterday.. Why?? And sugar-free boiled sweets?? I hate the taste of artificial sweeteners, they make me feel ill, and I don't have a lot of sugar, but as an adult surely I should be able to choose for myself what I want to eat or drink. Almost every squash/cordial has been ruined. Luckily at the moment waitrose 50% juice range is still unaltered but knowing my luck they will stop making it.

MorningsEleven · 15/02/2018 23:11

@Crispbutty

You should read the Amazon reviews, it seems they give people the apocalyptic wildshites.

Graphista · 15/02/2018 23:14

Being discussed on question time now

Crispbutty · 15/02/2018 23:28

Oh wow I just read those reviews. Will definitely not be getting those Confused