A massive change to the recipe of an iconic cracker has disappointed fans, who claim the product should never have been meddled with.
Arnott鈥檚 Cheds have recently undergone a major flavour update, switching out the distinctive cheese used for the biscuit鈥檚 top layer for a cheaper alternative, the Daily Mail reported.
While the Arnott鈥檚 website still lists pecorino cheese as an ingredient in the savoury snack, eagle-eyed customers noticed the packaging now reads 鈥渕ade with real cheese鈥.
Nine Radio鈥檚 Jacqui Felgate drew attention to the change in an Instagram post, describing the updated product as an 鈥渋mposter鈥.
In a statement, Arnott鈥檚 confirmed the popular product has recently been altered.
鈥淔rom time to time, we need to make updates to our manufacturing processes to ensure we can continue to meet supply for consumers.
鈥淎s part of this, a change has been made to one of the cheeses used in Arnott鈥檚 Cheds.
鈥淭his change does not impact the taste, texture, quality or overall eating experience, and consumers can continue to enjoy the same cheesy flavour they know and love.鈥
Felgate later shared an email response she received from Arnott鈥檚 Consumer Care Team announcing the crackers now use parmesan.
Some fans complained about the new taste in the comments of Felgate鈥檚 post, sharing their disappointment in the updated recipe and pointing out the apparent difference in quality.
鈥淚 knew they were different - the coverage of cheese on the biscuit has definitely changed!!鈥
Another customer complained 鈥渢he pecorino makes it ... they don鈥檛 taste like crap because there was some semblance of real cheese 馃槶鈥.
鈥淧ecoriKNOW! Don鈥檛 think we don鈥檛 know what you鈥檝e done. Don鈥檛 take away what small joys we still have left @arnottsbiscuits. You went and meddled where meddlin鈥 wasn鈥檛 needed,鈥 a third person said.
Arnotts has been approached for comment about when the altered recipe will reach New Zealand supermarket shelves.
It鈥檚 not the first time Arnott鈥檚 has come under fire for changing the taste of their products.
In 2016, the Australian company attempted to 鈥渋mprove鈥 core flavours of the popular lunchbox snack Shapes, causing mass public dismay before the original recipes were brought back.
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