SHOPPERS have been left fuming over a big change to crisp multipacks that are meant to be meat flavoured – as the majority are now meat-free.
Lidl‘s “meaty” multipacks of crisps have been reduced from 30 bags to 12 – with now only a third containing meat flavours.
Only the Roast Chicken flavour qualifies as meaty, while another four are Cheese and Onion and the remaining ones are Prawn Cocktail.
The packs are bizarrely also suitable for vegetarians.
The change is partly due to an EU ruling that banned artificial smoke flavourings to food due to a possible link to cancer.
UK shops do not have to adhere to this rule as Britain is outside of the EU, but Lidl is complying due to being headquartered in Neckarsulm, Germany.
The Crazy Bout Crisps Facebook page, has lamented the change, saying: “Rest in Peace Lidl Meaty Multipack – now not remotely as meaty as it was back in the summer of 2022.
“A sorry end for one of the biggest crisps joys there used to be.”
Earlier this year the meaty 30-pack contained 12 Cheese and Onion bags, six Roast Chicken, six Smoky Bacon and six Prawn Cocktail.
But the product was more evenly balanced two years ago, when it contained an equal mix of Ready Salted, Cheese and Onion, Beef and Onion, Smoky Bacon and Roast Chicken varieties.
The Beef and Onion flavour was discontinued in 2022, and replaced in the multipacks with Prawn Cocktail.
The change has gone down badly with customers.
One said: “I think your definition of “Meaty” is different to mine.“Roast Chicken: fair enough, Prawn Cocktail: debatable, but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt on that.
But I’m struggling to work out whether the Cheese or the Onion is the meaty bit in that flavour.”
Another added: “Everything about this @LidlGB “Meaty” multipack of crisps from #snaktastic makes me smile. How long has Cheese & Onion or Prawn Cocktail been meaty? Also love it is suitable for #vegetarians…”
A third added: “Why does your meaty pack of crisps only have one meaty flavour out of three? What an outrage!!!!”
And a fourth fumed: “Vegetarianism gone mad.”
ANALYSIS by chief consumer reporter James Flanders.
Food and drinks makers have been known to tweak their recipes or axe items altogether.
They often say that this is down to the changing tastes of customers.
There are several reasons why this could be done.
For example, government regulation, like the “sugar tax,” forces firms to change their recipes.
Some manufacturers might choose to tweak ingredients to cut costs.
They may opt for a cheaper alternative, especially when costs are rising to keep prices stable.
For example, Tango Cherry disappeared from shelves in 2018.
It has recently returned after six years away but as a sugar-free version.
Fanta removed sweetener from its sugar-free alternative earlier this year.
Suntory tweaked the flavour of its flagship Lucozade Original and Orange energy drinks.
While the amount of sugar in every bottle remains unchanged, the supplier swapped out the sweetener aspartame for sucralose.
The cost has also risen with 30-packs costing £3.99 earlier this year, or 13p.3 a bag, while the current cost is £1.75 for 12, or 14.6p a bag.
Lidl is not the only company switching up their products.
Cathedral City recently changed its slices to square-shaped – meaning they don’t cover all the bread.
The maker of dairy goods faced fierce backlash of complaints from fans who miss the former rectangles, which fitted perfectly over a piece of toast.
Cathedral City said the measure, affecting the original packs of mature slices, was brought in for a temporary period during which its slices would be packed at another site.
No date has yet been set for a reversal.
Elsewhere, Chicago Town scrapped its Ham & pineapple-flavoured deep dish pizza, in a blow to lovers of the divisive meal.
Food manufacturers can sometimes discontinue items if they are not selling well or if they want to introduce new products.
Kellogg’s also axed it All Bran Golden Crunch.
The popular breakfast item consisted of crunchy wheat bran and mixed cereals pieces with a caramel flavour.
It is offered as a sweeter alternative to its Original All-Bran, which remains in stock.
