Alcohol in pudding not clearly displayed

[Purpledefector]

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?

It says ‘contains alcohol’ on the front, OP. You missed it, and can I gently suggest you feel upset because it feels like you’ve broken your promise to yourself?

I get it, I’m almost four years sober.

But you haven’t. A little tiny bit of alcohol present in a dessert you didn’t even make hasn’t spoiled anything. It’s not enough to make you drunk - there’s probably more alcohol in a ripe banana!

Just leave it now, and move on. Your sobriety is safe. You’re still doing brilliantly. It’s all fine. Alcohol isn’t such a powerful substance that a tiny, accidental amount can stop you.

Give it a few more months, you’ll soon be much more neutral about it, and see it for what it is. A chemical element, like Neon or Helium.

I agree it should be included in the description (eg "with a hint of rum") but it is pretty clear on the front of the pack for anyone deliberately avoiding alcohol.

Actually that's not strictly true. I thought so too until I heard it covered on a cooking programme. You have to cook it for hours apparently.

Except this is a cold dessert so doubtful there's any cooking to speak of.

That said, if you want to avoid alcohol you need to check the ingredients. It ain't rocket science.

WHERE DID THAT STUPID GIF COME FROM?!?

I thought you were just being super friendly 🤣

For someone who has battled alcohol dependency or who does not drink alcohol for religious or other reasons personal to them this would be very upsetting and potentially trigger a relapse in an addict. You're absolutely right to flag this and they need to ensure packaging clearly states that alcohol is an ingredient

It made me smile😀

The amount of alcohol in it will be miniscule, hence why it's not labelled "over 18's only" but it's up to you to check.

It’s quite clear from the packaging that it contains alcohol and if you’re trying to avoid specific ingredients, you should perhaps read it properly.

They were very gracious in giving you a voucher OP. Cannot believe you feel the need to double down and further complain on an internet forum.

I just saw the package posted above though and it does state that the product contains alcohol? Did you not see this? Sorry if so, as I can imagine it's frustrating.

@LunaNorth 😆

I'm not feeling quite as sprightly as that woman!

@Purpledefector is it the taste which bothered you?

@LunaNorth made my laugh and brightened my morning!

This gif is brilliant 🤣

I feel like my postage has been somewhat overshadowed by the massive gif 🤦🏼‍♀️

It does. It says MAY CONTAIN NUTS or similar.

The pudding is comprised of several kinds of crap. The miniscule amoount of alcohol, not even enough to warrent a %, would be the least of one's worries.
But, yes, perhaps shown more clearly

Postage?

Post!

I promise I am still sober. Jesus.

Like everyone who has an allergy or watching what they eat you need to check the ingredients. Why should alcohol be any different from dairy, gluten etc.

Same! Hello mumsnetters!!😆

🤣🤣 Cheered me right up!

I think your expectations are a bit high OP. As pp showed, it is written on the front of the packaging 'contains alcohol'. Sainsbury's has compensated you and said they would feed it back to their packaging department. I'm not sure there's much more they can do. They clearly didn't think the alcohol was a 'selling' point, so didn't include it in the actual description.

And well done on your sobriety😊

I would argue that isn't pretty clear and should be moved to the back with the nut warning

I totally agree with you OP, simple "contains alcohol " on the front would be sufficient in the same way that nuts, eggs etc are always mentioned. Thr ingredients are often in such a small font that it could easily be missed. I would be really unhappy if I had inadvertently consumed alcohol, even if it was 'just' the flavour remaining.

I think their response was correct. There are now so many allergens and things people want to avoid that the packaging isnt big enough for prominent flashes for information so may as well just check the ingredients.

Maybe they should put the massive gif on the front of the packaging, with CONTAINS ALCOHOL instead of GUTEN MORGEN.

You couldn’t bloody miss it then, could you?