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’s a common issue. Alcohol is never openly listed. I have family members who don’t have alcohol for religious reasons and I just naturally check anything new I buy to see if it has any. Same as checking for allergens really.

very well done on your sobriety.

but I agree with those who say that if you are trying to avoid certain things you need to check the ingredients list. I see it also does say it on the front but I did miss it when I looked at the picture too, I think ingredients lists are the way to go.

im not sure what more you want from Sainsbury’s?

Where does it stop? I don’t eat pork so do I need pork gelatine clearly labelled? What about those who don’t have beef gelatine? Or those who are allergic to something which isn’t one of the main allergens?

Many of us have dietary limitations. It’s on us to check.

I had one of these and the alcohol taste is strong, it is in the sponge. I also had no idea there was alcohol in it, I didn't spot the sign on the front. It was only when I ate it that I realised. So I think it should be made more obvious in the description as it is really integral to the taste.

we are not talking about dietary limitations. We are talking about alcohol. Controlled by law. Relevant to almost every household that could be taking this home. Not a minority concern, by a majority one. Not a preference, or a personal allergy , or a intolerance, but a legally controlled drug. Of course it should be labelled.

I am lactose intolerant and gluton free - I check lables. as I would expect to. This is just my personal medical reactions to normal food.

But it is a criminal offence to provide alcohol to someone without them knowing. Because it is a drug. This is a completely separate class of substance. With a completely different set of dangers and effects

It's not Sainsbury's fault you didn't read the packaging properly - it is right there on the front.

Consider this a lesson in obsessive ingredient checking. Anyone with any sort of food intolerance or allergy has to do it.

DM is 47 years sober, I'm sorry OP you have to check the ingredients list on everything. Alcohol creeps up in the most unexpected places. Most Charlie Bigham ready meals, a lot of salad dressings. Mince pies, even cheapo ones. Vanilla extract. Loads of condiments. Posh ready made gravy. Christmas food products are a nightmare.

I hope this experience doesn't knock you off track and that there are no physical effects. Take it as a lesson to always always check labels and menus and speak to restaurant staff.

And from A Level chemistry 100 years ago, I seem to remember that foods need to cool for several hours to remove the alcohol completely.

They will often have wheat as the 15th item on an ingredient list

Ingredients are in order of how much is in the product, so if wheat is 15th, then there shouldn't be much in there. (At least I'm pretty sure that they are)

Sorry, I missed that in my eagerness to post.

A criminal offence to serve these?! Seriously. I think that is ridiculous to equate serving these to someone as to spiking someone drink with alcohol or drugs.

Well that's alright then, there's only a little bit of the ingredient in that will make someone really ill (or in the case of nuts, kill them).

Yes, god forbid anyone takes any responsibility for their own choices

@Purpledefector you are wrong, it says it contains alcohol ON THE FRONT of the pack, as well as in the ingredients. Look at the screenshot other posters have uploaded.
I'm sorry you were upset by it but I think this is wholly your fault for not checking, and you can't blame sainsbury's. However, lesson learnt for next time.

It's going to be such a small amount I'd imagine, and it was listed in the ingredients. It's not as if you could get pissed off of it?! The alcohol cooks off and just leaves a flavouring.
Alcohol occurs naturally in quite a lot of foods in small amounts, like fruit.
I don't think they will change the packaging based on one complaint.

No, read the post again

Poster was complaining that wheat is often 15th (or similar) in the list of ingredients

I was explaining the reason it is in that position.

I was not commenting on whether it was safe or not.

Ingredients must be listed in order of weight, with the main ingredient first according to the amounts that were used to make the food.

Precisely @ivs and I'm sure that way is what's specified in law?

I'm a vegetarian and I have to read all the ingredients on everything. I would do the same if I was a recovering or recovered alcoholic or if I had an allergy.

What's the big deal with checking ingredients over something that is important to you?

This was my thought too.

If you need to avoid an ingredient you check the back of the packet every single time (especially if there has been packaging changes or a "new, improved recipe!!)

Laziness of not reading ingredients isn't anyones problem but the consumer. Especially if it was also on the front of the box too!

You’ve enjoyed too many of these desserts haven’t you?? 🤣🤣

It is …. OP missed it.

labelling food as vegan and vegetarian is not a legal requirement, it’s a marketing strategy to increase sales. So, you will see that labelling food as “contains alcohol” in this context would be a bit odd.

no, it is listed in the ingredients, it should be labelled on the front.

I’m another who has to check contents bc of allergies but I think contains alcohol should have been on the front, separate from listed ingredients.

Congratulations on your sobriety. Can understand your anger at this.

It is labelled on the front.