There’s something about the decadence and simplicity of classic vanilla ice cream that makes it so irresistible — not to mention the versatility. Enjoy it on its own, or with Milo scooped on top (a classic Aussie sweet treat), or take your dessert up a notch by adding unusual combinations like olive oil and salt — a viral TikTok trend approved by chefs, celebrities and influencers alike.
It’s certainly no secret that Australians love the sweet, creamy treat. In fact, we’re actually one of the biggest consumers of ice cream in the world! But this also means ice cream connoisseurs Down Under are capable of discerning the smallest of changes to their favourite products.
One such incident occurred recently when a cult favourite vanilla ice cream was called into question by consumers who noticed it looked, and tasted, a bit unusual.
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The discussion kicked off in the popular Aldi Mums Facebook group, where a member shared a photo of the Blue Ribbon Classic Vanilla ice cream, made by iconic ice cream company Streets, that she recently purchased from the budget supermarket.
“Anyone else notice the Blue Ribbon ice cream is a bit strange?,” she posed to the group. “Well, that is because they have sneakily replaced it with Blue Ribbon Classic Vanilla, which in the fine print, is ice confection. Packaging the same, but it is NOT ice cream! I could scream!”
Other group members were quick to agree with the original poster, sharing their own experiences with the frozen dessert in the comments section.
“It was gnarly when we had it last,” one disappointed customer said. “Never again. Shame though.”
“I bought this the other day … we noticed the difference, it was disgusting,” another vented.
“Tastes so gross,” a third disgruntled consumer noted. “Definitely has a weird aftertaste.”
“If it doesn’t say ice cream on the container, it’s not actually ice cream,” one commenter explained. “I only just learnt this.”
“To be real ice cream the first ingredient listed must be cream otherwise it’s not ice cream,” another chimed in.
“If it says dessert it’s not real ice cream,” someone else wrote.
Unilever confirms change in ice cream recipe
When contacted by Yahoo Lifestyle about the change to the recipe, Unilever — the British parent company of Streets — responded that the ingredients had been changed slightly to deliver a smoother texture and reduce shrinkage in the tub when it is moved in and out of the freezer.
Comparing the former and current ice cream packaging closely, there are some key (albeit small) differences that could be contributing to the reported change in flavour and texture. Notably, the product was previously sold as ‘vanilla flavoured ice cream’. Now, its back label reads ‘vanilla flavoured frozen dairy dessert’ and is sold as such across all supermarkets globally - not just Aldi.
In terms of nutritional value, the main distinction is the fat content — the old product contained 10.8g of fat per 100g of ice cream, while the new dessert has just 7g of fat per 100g. Both products do contain cream, but the new recipe also includes vegetable oil, an ingredient not present previously.
Food Safety Plus food scientist Edward McCartney explained to Yahoo Lifestyle that the main difference between dairy ice cream and similar products marketed as ‘frozen dairy dessert’ or ‘ice confection’ is the fat content.
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“To be an ice cream you have to have a certain minimum percentage of fat, and if they went below that percentage they have to call it a frozen dessert,” McCartney said. “The texture, taste and mouthfeel might not be too dissimilar but it’s probably a cost-saving exercise, because milk fats are becoming quite expensive globally.”
He added that it was actually a requirement set by Australia and New Zealand Food Standards that products cannot be sold as ‘ice cream’ if they contain less than 10 percent milk fat.
That being said, if you prefer the taste of a classic vanilla ice cream, be sure to look out for small discrepancies in your favourite tubs — you might save yourself from buying two litres of ‘fake’ ice cream.
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