Shoppers Are Calling Out Trader Joe’s For Its ‘Epic Mistake’ In New Chocolate Treat
It’s a rare occurrence to see Trader Joe’s in the hot seat. The popular neighborhood grocery chain is usually praised for their unique and interesting products by some of the most dedicated fans in the business. Between the almost weekly seasonal releases and viral fan-created recipes, there’s a lot to love about TJ’s. Sometimes, though, our biggest heroes slip and makes mistakes, leaving fans in the position to speak on their frustrations.
In a recent viral video posted to Instagram, Chef Emme Ribeiro Collins talks about a beloved treasure of a dessert from her Brazilian heritage, brigadeiro, that has been recently co-opted by Trader Joe’s and marketed as a “melt in your mouth" treat from Portugal. Naturally, this caught Collins’ attention due to her Brazilian background, which happens to be the exact origin of the delicious treat.
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Already frustrated this month over the fact that Hispanic Heritage Month is supposed to celebrate Hispanic and Latin cultures, yet Latin is left out of the title, Collins points out that “Brazil does not speak Spanish, we speak Portuguese.” Furthermore, the chef and content creator even takes it a step further by showing the Wikipedia definition of brigadeiros in her video, which lists the savory treat as the national truffle of Brazil.
So, what gives? It would seem that Trader Joe’s would have nothing to gain by improperly representing a food and its origins, leaving everyone to question the validity of what you see written on their packaging. In a Reddit post dedicated to the controversial TJ’s product, some shoppers were curious as to what the difference was between the traditional brigadeiros from Brazil and the new Trader Joe’s version.
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“I’m from Brazil and I can tell [you] that the taste is completely different from Brazilian Brigadeiros,” stated one expert in the field. They continued, “Trader Joe’s Brigadeiros are more like a ganache truffle made with semi sweet chocolate.” They went on to describe traditional brigadeiro as “chewy” and tasting more like “milk chocolate.”
Another curious customer pointed out how the TJ’s version does list condensed milk as the main ingredient, and even has cream, which they attributed the ganache-like texture to. “I wonder if it was adjusted for mass market appeal,” they pondered. Another user on the subreddit pointed out how the ingredients list also includes palm oil, stating that “palm oil is frowned upon because it’s high in saturated fats, and it is a huge cause for deforestation.”
So, if you’re a fan of Brazilian brigadeiros, it may be in your best interest to either avoid the Trader Joe’s version, or go into it with an open mind that allows you to accept the differences and still enjoy the snack. As for the blatant disrespect of Brazilian culture though, TJ’s really should have triple checked their work before putting Portugal on the box. Otherwise, your most dedicated fans will be the first ones to point out your shortcomings.
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