What the hell happened to Cornettos?

[Ochtawa]

They used to be posh. If you bought a Cornetto you were a classy discerning customer with an edge of sophistication that Mr Whippy purchasers could only dream of. From the highly concentrated syrup, to the smooth and luscious ice cream, to the thick crisp cone, they were a portable culinary delight.

So when I bought a pack in Home Bargains I congratulated myself on having come so far in the world that I could acquire not only one but six of these beauties all for myself.

But what a disappointment. They're tiny, for starters. The tiny squirts of syrup are pale and taste like a cold vegan fruit pastille. The ice cream is like a frozen version of some dodgy grey-goods marshmallow. And the cone is pale and soft. The entire thing is an abomination.

This happens so often now - I buy something to eat that used to be nice and it turns out it's now rubbish. Who the fuck decided to make our food nasty?

Probably an iPhone autocorrect. Does it all the time on mine.☺️ (it's embarrassing!)

Shame we can't travel through the time and experience it again, eh? 😉

My phone sticks apostrophes all over the place if I’m not paying attention.

Because when on mumsnet I often type quickly without thinking or proof reading and in real life I often make mistakes with spelling and grammar but take more care to proof read. I don't really care if it offends you in some way!

I love a cornetto with a sprinkling of apostrophes!

From my perspective, once Alan Whicker died Cornettos never had the same qudos; rather like Zoom lollies and Captain Scarlet (although, before anyone points it out, I am fully aware that Scarlet was a string puppet whilst Alan W. was not).

The Aldi and Sainsbury versions are far better, like Cornettos used to be.

I realised recently that buying 3 cornettos from the sweet shop actually costs literally half the amount of buying three Mr Whippy ice creams from the van in the park. Mr Whippy is getting a bit too big for his boots if you ask me. The cornettos did seem smaller than I remember though.

This conversation today with friends talking about Creme Egg Easter eggs and how nothing beats Cadburys.
I can't actually believe people still like it, is it just that some people prefer palm oil and weird additives to actual chocolate?

It's not just ice cream.

Few years ago I found toast toppers in a larger supermarket. My childhood joy of creamed mushroom and cheese and ham flooded in and I scooped up a few tins. I lovingly heated one and dolloped it onto naice crusty toasted and lightly buttered bread. Two bites and it was in the bin.

As they say, the past is another country, and we are not welcome there.

You get a free apostrophe with Cornetto's.

You could save them up and when you have enough you get a free choc ice.

Just googled and discovered toast toppers were discontinued in 2015. Was more than a few years then. But the disappointment lingers.

Get the ones from Iceland instead. Lidl ice-creams are good.

Can't beat a Mister whippy with double flake and strawberry sauce 😋 👌

Same as Walkers. Used to be king of crisps and is now the budget option behind all manner of premium, handcooked options.

Vienetta is still very posh in my eyes and I won't hear otherwise

It will never leave you Im afraid

Same thing happened to me with crispy pancakes.

Not crispy and almost nil filling. No third degree burns as they were almost empty.

Let down.

Morrison's cornetto cones - so crunchy they slice the inside of your cheek

I used to work for the manufacturer;)
the size has changed, the rest not really. your palate on the other hand has!
they were never really posh, always slightly soggy wafer with pretty taste-free ice cream. For a child, they looked a lot better than they were. Objectively, they were always disappointing

Actually eating an Aldi cornetto right now and can confirm they are excellent. Mint and dark chocolate. Yum.

I see your posh Viennetta and raise you a Romantica. Remember when they were massive and delicious? Last time I saw one it was the size of a quarter pounder, and it looked very unappealing.

You have my commiserations x and good to know, so thank you, lest I suffer another fit of retro nostalgia in Iceland and end up disappointed again.

The Aldi dupes are far superior.

Before having cancer I never looked at ingredients for things like cornetto, but now I do I can’t eat them anymore! Full of nasty chemicals - emulsifiers and stabilisers that are considered likely to be harmful. It’s horrific that this crap is put into treats for children.

You just made me laugh out loud - a proper hoot! Thank you!