Nestle, which owns the iconic British confectionary brand, has received a large number of complaints on social media over the last few weeks about its Fruit Pastilles and Jelly Tots products
Sweet fans are not happy and are claiming that some of Rowntree’s most beloved products now “taste like soap”.
Nestle, which owns the iconic British confectionary brand, has received a large number of complaints on social media over the last few weeks about its Fruit Pastilles and Jelly Tots products. Rowntree’s Fruit Pastilles are round jelly sweets coated in crunchy sugar, while the brand’s Jelly Tots are pretty much the same thing although not sugar-coated and a little smaller. They both come in five flavours of blackcurrant, strawberry, lemon, lime, and orange – and each of these flavours are a different colour.
Some fans have contacted the food giant asking whether they had changed the recipe as the green lime-flavoured sweets now “taste like soap and perfume”. One X user said: “The green ones taste like soap – I used to love them. I thought it was a one off bag but got some more and they’re the same – like disinfectant.”
Another fan added: “Why do the green Fruit Pastilles suddenly taste of soap and perfume? They used to be really nice and lime. I can’t get rid of the taste now.”
A third added: “What have you done to Jelly Tots? I’ve bought two packets recently, and a packet of Fruit Pastilles, and they all taste soapy?? You’ve ruined them! Green ones, once a fave, now the worst! Thought it was just a dodgy pack!” A fourth fan shared: “Have @Rowntrees changed the fruit pastel recipe? The green ones taste like detergent!” A fifth person shared that they were “still a sucker” for sweeties at 44 years but that the Jolly Tots they once loved now tasted like “old ladies perfume”. They added: “Is @ROWNTREES trying to tell me I’m too old for sweets, or do jelly tots just taste like this?”
Other X users share their theories as to what happened, with many believing that the confectionary giant had recently made a recipe change. However, a Nestle spokesperson confirmed that this was not the case. They said: “We know how passionate fans are about Rowntree’s products and we are committed to ensuring that they remain mouth-watering, deliciously chewy and taste as great. If consumers do have feedback, we would love them to get in touch using the contact details which can be found on the back of every pack.”
