Asda vs Maryland Cookies - the same?

sleepyfrog

My son has autism and is very particular about what he eats - he won't eat anything if it doesn't look/taste the same as the last time he had it.

He won't go to bed without first having 4 Maryland Chocolate Chip Cookies. Most of the time this is fine as Asda usually have them at either 50p/packet or 2 for £0.99 etc

However, at the moment they are 99p a packet, so as well as these I bought a pack of Asda's own Chocolate Chip Cookies from the 'Chosen by You' range (blue packet) for 49p.

I put them side by side and apart from a slight difference in shape to the chips they look very alike. I therefore put a couple on top of the cookie jar so my son would get them and he ate them without noticing any difference, and believe me, he could spot one!

They are the same size, look to have the same density of chocolate chips, and if you look at the side have the same fat and calorie content and general ingredients.

What's more, the Asda ones have more in a packet. I will definately be switching from now on.

madhouse

I love your description of checking the cookies. I too have a son with autism and completely understand their attention to details.:rotfl:

invisibleyousee

Thanks for the tip :-)

stephen77

There is a good chance both cookies are made in the same factory.
Or just that Asda based there product on the maryland product and did a very good job in matching it.

chelms38

It is just like a lot of things the brand snobs think they are getting a superior item because they pay a lot more,but there is no difference in most items.You can save yourself a lot of money by buying cheaper no brand items.

alexlyne

You should tell Asda: they could start a new 'Chosen by autistics' range of food! Would be nice and clear that you are actually getting something as good as the leading brand.

tpsjrm

Quite often the makers/bakers of own-branded stuff use their slightly under or over-coloured product for supermarket brands. For example, when the Maryland production line starts each day, the ovens tend to under-cook slightly, so the product is a wee bit lighter in colour or sometimes the ovens brown cookies a bit too much. Only the correct coloured cookies get branded as Maryland and the rest will be packaged as supermarket own brands.