Good and bad buys from Aldi and Lidl

Living_proof

I often buy blocks of cheese in Aldi but the one bought yesterday just crumbled to pieces as soon as I tried to grate it. I haven't had this happen before, and this block will go back for a refund.

onashoestring

Häagen-Dazs Baileys Ice Cream was £2.49 at Lidl yesterday.
In Tesco it's £4.45 or £7 for 2.
Can't wait to try it.

buglawton

Happygreen wrote: »

All plastic containers should have a number printed into the plastic on the bottom of the pack. That tells recycling companies where it goes rather than what is printed on the pack. Depends on your Council if they sort it or if it gets bulk-shipped to China (most of it does and comes back as microbeads in cosmetics and toothpaste). I wouldn't worry about the triangle but if you do, check the numbers on the bottom and if it is recyclable.http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/g804/recycling-symbols-plastics-460321/?slide=1

Most Aldi plastic product packaging seems to have no triangle at all, which per that guide you linked, means it's not recyclble at all and is the type of platic that gums up recycling systems and causes even more waste/pollution. Aldi's policies re recycling may be legal but are not very ethical.

Feral_Moon

Living_proof wrote: »

I often buy blocks of cheese in Aldi but the one bought yesterday just crumbled to pieces as soon as I tried to grate it. I haven't had this happen before, and this block will go back for a refund.

I've previously had same happen with cheese bought in other supermarkets. At least Aldi will give you a refund. Try getting that from Tesco or Sainsburys :rotfl:

Cornucopia

buglawton wrote: »

Most Aldi plastic product packaging seems to have no triangle at all...

... and is the type of platic that gums up recycling systems and causes even more waste/pollution...

Are either of these things true?

It seems highly unlikely that Aldi would go out of their way to use a type of plastic that was not in common usage across the industry. If there were a particularly polluting but unnecessary type of plastic, I would expect Government to intervene to ban or restrict its use.

System

Feral_Moon wrote: »

I've previously had same happen with cheese bought in other supermarkets. At least Aldi will give you a refund. Try getting that from Tesco or Sainsburys :rotfl:

Never had a issue with refunding products from Sainsburys or Asda. Morrison's, a different story

buglawton

Cornucopia wrote: »

Are either of these things true?

It seems highly unlikely that Aldi would go out of their way to use a type of plastic that was not in common usage across the industry. If there were a particularly polluting but unnecessary type of plastic, I would expect Government to intervene to ban or restrict its use.

Non recyclable plastic is the cheapest. Aldi doesn't use it, Aldis suppliers do. Aldi could exercise more pressure on them to comply with best EU recycling practice, but chooses not to in many cases.

Cornucopia

Any evidence or examples?

Aldi's "brands" are mainly made up. They are simply Aldi own-brand. Same with Lidl. There's no reason why Aldi should not exercise the same control over its suppliers as all other supermarkets - indeed, some of them will be the same companies.

I have to say, this sounds a lot like one of those "Aldi must be doing X to get such cheap prices" myths.

dlusman

onashoestring wrote: »

Häagen-Dazs Baileys Ice Cream was £2.49 at Lidl yesterday.
In Tesco it's £4.45 or £7 for 2.
Can't wait to try it.

£2 in morrisons ( until end of January )
https://groceries.morrisons.com/webshop/getSearchProducts.do?clearTabs=yes&isFreshSearch=true&chosenSuggestionPosition=&entry=haagen-dazs

Grouchy

Couple of questions about Lidl:

1. What are the lidl's own tea bags (knightsbridge) like, the normal ones (like PG/Tetley) are they good tasting and quality? Have never checked these out before.

2. Like the Maribel jams, but seems my local has introduced a different look (a bit of a take off on the Bonne Maman type jar) for Raspberry only so far. Even better than the previous version so perhaps a different recipe also?. Are all the flavours changing or is this a one off?

Thanks