I mean there is also a big difference between American brands in the US and the EU. Last time I went to the US, I brought back snickers, Twix, and KitKats. Then I bought the EU alternative and set up a double blinded taste test with my friends.

Without fail we all immediately were able to tell them apart. The American version was chalky and tasted like pure sugar. The EU version, albeit also nowhere near Tony quality and still very sweet, was much higher quality and you could taste the individual components of the candy. It was not just a sweet punch in the face.

[–] cocolowlander@feddit.nl 7 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

I worked in a Nabisco factory a decade ago in the US making Oreo.

They've consistently looked for cost cutting measures to reduce the amount of cocoa powder (expensive input) put into the product. What happened when I was there was they would look for a new vendor that would offer stronger cocoa flavor profile per kg and then use that as a justification to cut the amount of cocoa powder in the product. To mask it they would amp up the sweetness.

In a blind test, a normal people can't tell the difference year to year, but if you compare it to what it was ten years ago, there would be a noticeable difference.

[–] JokeDeity@lemm.ee 2 points 12 hours ago

As to the last paragraph. Totally right that we don't notice the gradual change right away, but I don't think I'm alone in thinking everything just kind of tastes like shit now. Everything. Produce isn't good, meats aren't good, groceries are completely fucked. The entire food industry has been tinkered with by greedy bastards for so long it's just all garbage now.

[–] Aux@feddit.uk 1 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

Twix is British.

[–] neo2478@sh.itjust.works 1 points 12 hours ago

TIL it’s Mars. The point still stands though.

[–] Flisty@mstdn.social 1 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

@Aux @neo2478 it might have started in the UK but it's owned by Mars and I'm pretty sure they sell a US one

[–] Flisty@mstdn.social 1 points 12 hours ago

@Aux @neo2478 KitKat was also British (Rowntrees) but it's now Nestle except the US where it's Reese's (Hershey's)

[–] Aux@feddit.uk 4 points 12 hours ago

[–] fxomt@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (1 children)

I'm not american or european, but yeah. They don't ship here (nor any other ethical alternatives) so sadly i'm stuck with stuff like pepsico and nestle. I try to abstain as much as possible.

You guys eat american chocolate

Why not? It tastes fine. My main problem is how they use forced labor to source the cocoa; which in this case chocolonely is the exception. Even european companies (like nestle) still suffer the same issues.

Though i'm biased since as i said, we mainly only have pepsico and nestle so i don't know how "proper" chocolate in your guys's opinion tastes.

[–] TheGiantKorean@lemmy.world 2 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

We do have pretty decent chocolate here, but it's not any of the major brands. I grew up eating Hershey, which is pretty bad (but it kind of has a special place in my heart - nostalgia and all that).