"New improved recipe" vent.

THX758

What kind of bread are you eating?
The only "bready" thing I ate without salt was the indian type of bread, like naan or other. I was explained by an indian friend of mine it was normal, it is because you suppose to put something in it to eat with it, and that thing would be salted. Unfortunately, I like my bread salted, and when it is not salted I find it vile.
But I have never come across any sliced loaves of bread that were unsalted.

Bogof_Babe

It's not necessarily salt-free, just reduced. I haven't done a survey on the subject, it's just the impression we have gained recently. It may even be us losing our tastebuds as we get older!

ConsumerMatt

Why don't you ping the manufacturer an email about the issue? I bet the reply will refer to some imaginary survey about most customers preferring the new recipe. It happened to me when I tried to complain to Nestle when they completely ruined Smarties. I was hoping to bag myself some freebies (by being polite while getting my point across) but unfortunately I was simply told that the vast majority of customers actually prefer the new chalky coloured shell and flavourless chocolate. (they didn't mention the shell or the chocolate in their reply obviously).

Ectophile

I'm all for less salt in products. It's usually only there to hide how bland and tasteless the other ingredients are.

A few years ago, on the advice of my doctor, I stopped adding salt to anything I cook. It didn't take long at all before I stopped missing it.

THX758

Sorry but, as you said, without salt everything is bland and tasteless, why would I want less salt in my food?
I will eat everything I like (until my body tells me it can't handle some ingredients), in a reasonable quantity. I stopped listening to what they say about what's good or bad for you, they just making people sick and frighten them to eat anything.
I remember how they said for years that butter was sooo baaad for you, and that everyone should substitute butter with margarine.
My mother used margarine for everything but cooking, when I left the parental home I decided to use butter as humans have been eating butter for centuries, if it was so bad we woudn't be so numerous.
Now they say that butter might be good for you........they can't make up their own mind, are they?
Everything in moderation, that's all you need to remember.

Bogof_Babe

My OH is a vegetarian, so that cuts out many things that I could feed him on. Only yesterday there was an article in the Times saying that men should avoid dairy as much as possible, as it increases the risk of prostate cancer. Apparently no more than two eggs a week, and not a lot of cheese. 80% of our meals tend to involve one or the other, so back to the drawing board.

Sigh, where will it all end?

THX758

Be careful about becoming paranoid about things which are written in newspapers. Most of the time those statement are not 100% proven, but it helps those scientists to get their next lot of money to pay for their mortgages if they publish some notes on their research.
Milk is another thing that we ingurgitated for centuries, and another one which will come back to be good for you in a few years. I do not trust anything anymore, not even doctors sometime.
Decades ago, nothing was told much about anything, and the people were feeling better because they weren't told every five minutes that everything they eat or do is bad for you, and everything they don't do and should do will shorten their life.
However, in my area, every time a shop closed down, it reopens as a fast food shop or cafes. But I don't see anything done about it. And not one of them is offering an alternative with "healthy" food, like fruit and vegs juices or sushi or something a bit more healthy.
I don't go in takeways, I can't remember the last time I have been in one, and when I was in a burger place it was probably because I wanted to go to the toilet, more than eating a burger.
But I do miss a chinese meal, sometimes........

Ectophile

THX758 wrote: »

Everything in moderation, that's all you need to remember.

I wish someone would tell that to the processed food manufacturers before they tip another sack of salt into the food mixer.

Even without adding any extra salt to the food I cook from scratch, I'm probably still eating too much of the stuff.

20aday

It's annoying when a product is touted as "new and improved" but noticeably smaller!

I guess a lot of it stems down to the Obesity crisis and too much fat, salt & sugar etc but as posted above: everything in moderation!

One thing I am concerned about: glucose fructose syrup (corn sugar syrup across the pond, I believe?) Is appearing in quite a few receipes I've noticed... Cheaper than sugar but the body (apparently) can't process it and may be one of the reasons we're seeing an increase in type 2 diabetes.

Malthusian

THX758 wrote:

Sorry but, as you said, without salt everything is bland and tasteless, why would I want less salt in my food?

Everything? If every possible combination of food tastes bland to you then you have a serious salt addiction problem. It's the same problem as someone who complains that life is boring if they're not drunk or high. Food is not bland and tasteless if you haven't destroyed your tastebuds with salt. Cut down and they'll soon heal and be able to taste actual flavours again.

Most foods already contain salt and sugar. You can use a wider variety of ingredients and herbs/spices to make it taste nice rather than chucking a load of table salt in. Boiling pasta and rice with salt is fine, but it's completely unnecessary to add salt when making sauce.

szam wrote:

They completely changed the ASDA Szechuan stir-fry sauce to a 'new and improved recipe'.

I used to love the previous version and would have it with my stir fry once a week, if not, more than once. Not great given the sugar content, but I was hooked on it and was for a good 5-6 years.

Why not just open a bag of Tate & Lyle and chuck a couple of teaspoons in?