Monday, April 11, 2016

Incorrect Labeling...

There are 2 Trader Joe's products that have the nutritional labeling ALL WRONG.  Well, in our opinion anyway...  Normally TJ's hits the nail pretty much on the head with their "serving size" recommendation, but on 2 of their products they are waaaaaay off...  They are:

Caramel and Cheddar Popcorn Mix (formerly known as Chicago Style Popcorn)
Caramel and Cheddar Popcorn mix review here

and

Pico de Gallo Salsa
Hot Pico de Gallo Salsa review here
The portion sizes listed on the labels are LAUGH OUT LOUDable!

I could eat this everyday.  

David with one of his favorite snacks (before TJ's changed the name of this product)











































First off, the popcorn.  "About 6 servings".  SIX SERVINGS???  Are you KIDDING me Trader Joe's??  Anyone who has the self control to split this bag into 6 servings should be knighted or given sainthood.  This bag is 2.5 servings.  :)

And the SALSA, I said it before and I will say it again, the idea of this salsa container holding 10 servings is INSANE.  10 servings for 10 Barbie dolls PERHAPS, but 10 servings for any humans with TJ's blue chips to dip in them???  AIN'T NO WAY.  This tub holds exactly TWO servings of salsa for this human.

Are there are TJ's products that you buy that seem "off" on the serving size listed??  These are the two that get me every time.

And now that I have finished the popcorn and the salsa, I need to make another run to Trader Joe's!!

12 comments:

  1. At least with the salsa, since it's veggies, you can eat the whole thing and not worry about the serving size.

    Anyway, thanks for your continual posts here this year. I feel like I know you a bit from following your blog for so long, so I am just going to say this to you now. I have complex PTSD and always have severe triggers during election years (especially this one). I really appreciate when I can read one of your posts and get my mind in a more positive place. If only the entire world was like a big Trader Joe's where we all could live. :)

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    1. Thanks so much for commenting. I am honored that my little reviews can help you feel a bit better. And this election cycle, aye carumba... I don't think it could BE any more argumentative or stressful!!
      Be well, friend. Thank you for sharing and for encouraging me to write. Hugs to you.

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  2. I agree about the popcorn--that is my favorite product (tied with pastrami lox). Same with the kettlecorn; it's a victory if I can make it last as 2-3 snacks. I don't like cookie butter, but I feel like a lot of people can eat serving after serving of the cookie butter. I used to feel like the chocolate covered pom seeds were 1 serving = 1 container.. but they discontinued that. :( Also the Holi-drizzle popcorn at the holidays = 1 big serving of the entire bag. Maybe also the sweet & spicy pecans... 5 servings? I dump them on sweet potatoes (mini-Thanksgiving!), and there are maybe 2 servings total for me.

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    1. Oh my goodness, have you had the REAL caramel and cheddar popcorn, the one that I assume this one is a rip-off of (since it used to be called Chicago Blend but they changed the name)?? It is from Garrett's Popcorn in Chicago. Ohhhhh man, it is amazing. I can eat it til my jaws ache!
      I didn't know they stopped with the chocolate covered pom seeds. :( That was not a wise move. Those was so tasty and tiny and "punchy"!

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    2. Yes, I am originally from Chicago--Garrett's is my number one love. And since moving away, I have promised myself to send myself the real-deal for my birthday, even though it's $47 plus shipping.
      I do like the Herb & Dill popcorn at TJ's and the kettle-cooked popcorn chips--those are another 1 bag = 1 serving, but they satisfy a sweet/dessert craving for me.

      Someone said to replace the pom seeds with the chocolate covered sunflower seeds. Um, no. I tried it.. not the same at all. Then they said the chocolate covered cranberries, which are closer but much larger and harder to parcel out a small amount (of calories).

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    3. First, my comment above says "those was"... Oh my... I must have been tired when writing...

      Secondly, I LOVE that you treat yourself to Garrett's for your birthday (and that you know the exact amount it costs + shipping...). Garrett's is not CHEAP even when you stand in line for half an hour to buy it in Chicago!

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  3. I can't think of exactly which ones but the prepared salads and wraps often list 2 or 2.5 servings- per single serving sized container.....
    Actually what baffles me is that the individual cups of greek yogurt = one serving, aka 5-6oz. But if you buy the larger container one serving = 8oz. What? So is the single cup less than a serving? Or .......? Totally weird. Same thing with fage yogurt. I don't get it.
    Ttrockwood

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    1. That's weird! Now I feel the need to go read some yogurt labels...

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  4. I just found your blog and look forward to reading more of it. I've clicked around on some things that I've tried, and agree with your reviews, so I plan to try some of the items you've recommended. Many of these I've looked at and pondered, but haven't yet tried. In my house, the Pico de Gallo is a single serving...my daughter always eats it all before I get home. Fun and informative. Thanks!

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    1. THANK YOU - you make me feel less guilty about eating all of the salsa in one sitting!! :)

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  5. I just found your blog and am loving it. I'm a Trader Joe's fan but there's no denying that they have both big hits and misses, so it's fun to read product reviews before actually purchasing.

    This post caught my eye because their new Vegan Marshmallows seemed to have blatantly incorrect nutrition labelling. First of all, they listed the serving size as 2 marshmallows, and said the package contained 10 servings. I thought that seemed off so counted them, and there were almost 40! I'm not one to complain about extra product, but the calories were odd as well - 2 tiny marshmallows apparently had 100 calories! Normally I would expect 4-5 to clock in at 100 calories. So I don't know what to think. My only thought is that the ingredients they used that made it vegan are significantly higher calories than the normal recipe for a marshmallow, but even if that's the case, the servings per container was significantly wrong. They are the cheapest price I've seen for gelatin-free marshmallows, so I do hope they get the nutrition sorted out, and stick around on shelves!

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    1. Now THAT is wacky - either the SERVING SIZE is off or the number of servings... Hmmm... Bizarre. I have not tried those Vegan Marshmallows. Now that hot chocolate season is sneaking up on us maybe I will!

      Glad you are enjoying reading the blog. I have a very fun time writing it. :) I am currently in Canada, land of no Trader Joe's. I DID bring some TJ's products with me in my luggage though (she said as she munched on some TJ's Soft and Juicy Dried Mango slices)!

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