Frozen is not fresh: Woolworths admits to ‘mistake’
- Replies 43
Here at the SDC, we know how important it is to eat fresh and healthy food. That's why we were really surprised to hear about a shopper's recent experience at Woolworths.
A customer from Queensland went to a local store and discovered that pre-packaged sliced bread from multiple brands was frozen solid. Can you believe it?
The shopper was so disappointed that she took to social media to share her experience. She even made a video showing how she tried to poke and hit the bread, but it was rock solid and sounded like tapping on a brick.
She expressed her frustration in a Facebook post, saying that it was unacceptable for Woolworths to sell bread that was frozen solid, especially when they claim to be 'the FRESH food people'.
To make matters worse, the Woolworths shopper discovered that it wasn't just one brand of sliced bread that had been frozen solid. In fact, the entire line of bread from multiple brands was affected! We can only imagine how shocked she must have been to find out that none of the bread was fresh.
According to a spokesperson from Woolworths, it seems that the gluten-free bread purchased by the shopper is actually meant to be delivered to stores in a frozen state and then thawed for customer convenience.
Unfortunately, it seems that these loaves were displayed on the shelves in their frozen state, which was definitely a mistake. It's good to see that Woolworths acknowledges that they 'missed the mark' in this instance.
It's also interesting to hear them explain that gluten-free bread is an exception to the routine of daily deliveries of fresh bread. This type of bread is considered raw and natural and is baked differently in small batches and in facilities that are dedicated solely to manufacturing gluten-free products.
It's important for stores to take steps to ensure that products are properly labelled and stored, especially when it comes to items like gluten-free bread that require special attention.
Hopefully, this experience will serve as a reminder to Woolworths and other stores to be extra diligent in their processes to prevent these kinds of mishaps in the future.
The frozen bread debate
It's true that freezing bread can be a great way to extend its shelf life while maintaining its quality and texture. And it's good to know that thawed bread can still taste similar to fresh bread.
However, it's worth noting that freezing bread can have some potential downsides, particularly for people with certain digestive issues like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
When the bread is frozen, the starch in it is converted into a form known as resistant starch. While this is generally okay for most people, it can potentially aggravate symptoms for those with IBS.
Specifically, the resistant starch in frozen bread can ferment in the bowel, leading to the production of gas and bloating. For someone with IBS, this can be particularly uncomfortable and even painful.
So while freezing bread can be a useful technique for many, it's important to be mindful of the potential effects on your digestive system if you have underlying issues.
While this incident may have left the shopper feeling angry and disappointed, it's good to know that Woolworths does offer a Fresh or Free Guarantee. This means that if a customer is not satisfied with their fresh food purchase, whether in-store or online, they can contact customer service for a refund or a replacement.
It's always reassuring to know that stores stand behind their products and are willing to make things right if there are any issues. And hopefully, this guarantee will help prevent customers from facing any similar unpleasant surprises in the future.
We'd love to hear from you, members! Have you ever had a similar experience at your local Woolworths or other supermarkets? Let us know in the comments!
A customer from Queensland went to a local store and discovered that pre-packaged sliced bread from multiple brands was frozen solid. Can you believe it?
The shopper was so disappointed that she took to social media to share her experience. She even made a video showing how she tried to poke and hit the bread, but it was rock solid and sounded like tapping on a brick.
She expressed her frustration in a Facebook post, saying that it was unacceptable for Woolworths to sell bread that was frozen solid, especially when they claim to be 'the FRESH food people'.
A shopper recently experienced a shocking revelation about bread from 'multiple brands' in her local store. Credit: Facebook.
To make matters worse, the Woolworths shopper discovered that it wasn't just one brand of sliced bread that had been frozen solid. In fact, the entire line of bread from multiple brands was affected! We can only imagine how shocked she must have been to find out that none of the bread was fresh.
According to a spokesperson from Woolworths, it seems that the gluten-free bread purchased by the shopper is actually meant to be delivered to stores in a frozen state and then thawed for customer convenience.
Unfortunately, it seems that these loaves were displayed on the shelves in their frozen state, which was definitely a mistake. It's good to see that Woolworths acknowledges that they 'missed the mark' in this instance.
It's also interesting to hear them explain that gluten-free bread is an exception to the routine of daily deliveries of fresh bread. This type of bread is considered raw and natural and is baked differently in small batches and in facilities that are dedicated solely to manufacturing gluten-free products.
It's important for stores to take steps to ensure that products are properly labelled and stored, especially when it comes to items like gluten-free bread that require special attention.
Hopefully, this experience will serve as a reminder to Woolworths and other stores to be extra diligent in their processes to prevent these kinds of mishaps in the future.
Thawed bread can contain the same nutrients as fresh bread; however, the flavour and texture may be compromised. Credit: Unsplash/Stephanie Harvey.
The frozen bread debate
It's true that freezing bread can be a great way to extend its shelf life while maintaining its quality and texture. And it's good to know that thawed bread can still taste similar to fresh bread.
However, it's worth noting that freezing bread can have some potential downsides, particularly for people with certain digestive issues like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
When the bread is frozen, the starch in it is converted into a form known as resistant starch. While this is generally okay for most people, it can potentially aggravate symptoms for those with IBS.
Specifically, the resistant starch in frozen bread can ferment in the bowel, leading to the production of gas and bloating. For someone with IBS, this can be particularly uncomfortable and even painful.
So while freezing bread can be a useful technique for many, it's important to be mindful of the potential effects on your digestive system if you have underlying issues.
While this incident may have left the shopper feeling angry and disappointed, it's good to know that Woolworths does offer a Fresh or Free Guarantee. This means that if a customer is not satisfied with their fresh food purchase, whether in-store or online, they can contact customer service for a refund or a replacement.
It's always reassuring to know that stores stand behind their products and are willing to make things right if there are any issues. And hopefully, this guarantee will help prevent customers from facing any similar unpleasant surprises in the future.
We'd love to hear from you, members! Have you ever had a similar experience at your local Woolworths or other supermarkets? Let us know in the comments!
.png){kind=icon}
