Good and bad buys from Aldi and Lidl

DominicH

Isn't that simply the definition of "excess"? Anyway, not sure that there's good evidence that animal fats are bad for you. Even august public health bodies have been backtracking on that advice for a couple of years now.
A. Badger says that the quality of scientific research has declined, but I'm not sure about that either. I'd say it is higher now than ever. Some of the famous studies that warned against saturated fat were done back in the 40s and 50s. They now seem to have been badly flawed, hence the backtracking.

A._Badger

DominicH wrote: »

Isn't that simply the definition of "excess"? Anyway, not sure that there's good evidence that animal fats are bad for you. Even august public health bodies have been backtracking on that advice for a couple of years now.
A. Badger says that the quality of scientific research has declined, but I'm not sure about that either. I'd say it is higher now than ever. Some of the famous studies that warned against saturated fat were done back in the 40s and 50s. They now seem to have been badly flawed, hence the backtracking.

This is getting OT now so I'll confine myself to two observations.

That original flawed 'science' was reinforced repeatedly by even worse science right up until recent years - and it is still being championed by some vested interests (which doesn't always mean manufacturers. Look at the reaction of health 'charities' to any findings which contradict their avowed beliefs).

Don't fall into the trap of assuming that what is being published now is necessarily much better than it was. The pressure on academics to publish is stronger than ever, the resources no better and the peer pressure to publish confirmatory work intense.

And with that I am off to eat an Aldi scotch egg for lunch (and I really am), secure in the knowledge that someone who still doesn't understand that correlation doesn't imply causation is certain to have concluded from epidemiological 'studies' that they are a deadly poison!

A._Badger

Just to correct myself in the above. For 'imply' read 'mean'.

Good Scotch egg, BTW. Another plus for Aldi..

sarahj1986

I've just had Aldi risotto rice with tomato and red pepper (200g packet for 79p). Quick easy meal., empty contents into a pan and simmer for 15 or so minutes. I added grated Parmesan on top of mine, left some for hubby too. Very tasty and easy to make, would make a main meal for 2 or could be divided up to form part of a dinner for 3/4. Will be heading up to Aldi next week to get some more of these!

sharond101

Not food but Calypso Once suntan lotion is marked to clear in my store at £2.49 for factor 20 200ml. This is really good stuff and does only need to be applied once per day unlike some of the other once daily formulations I have tried. It is also good for sensitive skin, my Husband reacts to every other suntan lotion I have bought.

red_imps_2003

I've been trying a handful of things from Aldi recently. I've nothing new to report beyond what is listed above but I can add further endorsement to the jaffa cakes and to the Soupreme range of tinned soups (my favourite of which is the tomato, basil and creme fraiche). Their salted and roasted peanuts are nice. I am also loving thier 29p yoghurts and their more expensive layered ones.

I liked the taste of the red grapes I bought but, as others have recently commented, it was only a couple of days before the mould started to appear (this is on three occasions now).

I'm a sucker for flapjack so tried their 49p bar (a plain one) and it is the only one I've tried in my entire life that I was unable to stomach. I had to throw half of it away.

I'm scared to try their mince, as I bought one from Lidl about four years ago and it was foul (full of gristle and bits of bone). I've not dared try a Lidl/Aldi one ever since. I really must try again, though. I am also tempted to try their (Aldi's) steaks and their Tikka Masala ready meal after reading this thread.

Feral_Moon

It always makes me smile when people seem 'scared' to try food products from Aldi/Lidl as if they were some alien entity that might poison them :rotfl:

Aldi's meat and poultry is all produced in the UK to high welfare standards and is excellent quality. Unlike the other supermarkets. Almost all the fruit and vegetable produce I've bought recently has been locally grown in Suffolk. None of this shipping it halfway around the world. Eggs and dairy products are all produced in the UK too.

The fact they also offer 100% money back guarantee if you don't like a product makes it a no brainer for me. I rarely have to step foot in another supermarket these days and even then it's only for specific products which Aldi don't actually sell.

PLRFD

If it's all locally grown I wonder why it goes bad so quickly.

Doc_N

PLRFD wrote: »

If it's all locally grown I wonder why it goes bad so quickly.

Probably because they aren't able/prepared to spend what the majors spend on effective transportation and cool chain systems - though that will probably change as they grow in size and the additional costs make more financial sense.

But the onions in particular are appalling (check this thread) - there's no excuse whatever for so many bad onions!

Feral_Moon

PLRFD wrote: »

If it's all locally grown I wonder why it goes bad so quickly.

You say that but I rarely have anything go bad on me. I think I may have thrown away the odd carrot or onion over the past couple of years but otherwise everything has been fine and certainly lasted as long, if not longer than any produce I've bought in other supermarkets. And since they installed chiller cabinets in all their stores, their range of fresh produce has increased fantastically.