Tell Kraft Their New Ranch Dressing Recipe Is Gross, Get Coupon For More Gross Dressing
Kraft has apparently changed their recipe for Ranch dressing and reader Bobby thinks the new stuff is "bad," so he emailed to let Kraft know.
Bobby says:
So has anyone noticed how horrible the new Kraft Ranch Dressing tastes ever since they came out with the new bottle designs a few months back? Well, I noticed it and emailed Kraft to tell them how bad the new stuff tastes. I received an email back appologizing and saying that they have indeed changed their recipe in many of their salad dressings. The lady also said she was going to send me a reimbursement in the mail to reimburse me for the bottle that I purchased. I got the letter today and they actually sent me a coupon for a free bottle of Kraft Salad Dressing. LOL. Why would I want another bottle of the same stuff I wrote in to complain about how badly it tastes?
Kraft had good intentions in mind, but obviously weren't using their head.
Hmm, we suppose you could try the "Zesty Italian" or something? But yeah, a coupon for more of the crap you didn't like is not exactly the same as a reimbursement. Sigh.
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Comments:
What chemicals did Krap Foods change the recipe?
Worse, you can't even make the stuff from scratch now, since all the buttermilk I can find has carrageenan in it. The dressing turns out like Jell-O. Gross.
Hello Newman's Own. Taste is great, cause is good and seems to stay good longer.
This reminds me of when Slim-a-bears changed from using Splenda to using Nutrasweet. I didn't read the ingredient list till I went to get one out of the freezer and noticed that there was no splenda logo on the box. I emailed them a complaint, telling them that I am allergic to nutrasweet and that it gives me seizures. About 3 weeks later I got a coupon for another free box of the same ice cream bars.
For ranch: Naturally Fresh. It's refrigerated in the produce section, packaged in a Mason jar.
For all others: Newman's or Ken's.
As far as this story goes, I guess at least Kraft's level of service is about in line with their level of tastiness.
Kraft Ranch was always my leave favorite... I wonder if I'd like it more now. Hmmm...
this happened to me a couple of years ago when kraft changed the formula for Tang to include splenda.
when i complained though, i didn't just get a coupon for any kraft foods beverage, but JUST for Tang.
i ended up giving it to a friend
I don't really see the problem... he didn't like that particular changed dressing, so they sent him a coupon to try a different one for free. Just 'cause he doesn't like one doesn't mean he won't like them all.
New! Kraft Raunch dressing! Now crappier than ever!
(Sorry, couldn't resist)
@ohiomensch:
Mmmm, Ken's. I would push over an old lady to get the last bottle of Lite Vidalia Onion.
President's choice is way better (and cheaper) anyways.
I'm always amused by the fact that Kraft is owned by Philip Morris Company.
For what it's worth, Ranch dressing is always bad.
@ohiomensch: I see this type of thing a lot. I'm starting to think that these companies do that on purpose. Not with good intentions in mind, like the OP mentioned. Think about it: you already admitted that you don't like the product. If they send you a coupon, you might throw it away. Many people who receive the coupon may feel no hard feelings for the "attempt", yet the company knows that they will probably never have to reimburse anyone for using that coupon. They win.
On the other hand, a while back I emailed Hellman's to tell them that their new tartar sauce was nasty, and to ask if the old version was still available anywhere - I didn't even get a response.
At least the OP knows Kraft got his comment!
Hear Hear! Their "New Great Taste" Catalina is disgusting.
I had to search for bottles of the old stuff at Wal-Marts and Dollar stores.
It reminds of the current TV add for an online dating service. If you waste 6 months with no result, they will let you waste the next 6 months for free!
But my favorite is dining out with friends and having someone say, "This is the worst piece of crap I ever tasted! Wanna bite?"
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I reccomend the Ceasar, only if you are a fan of black pepper.
My fridge is a veritable graveyard of salad dressings that I've tried and found lacking, but can't bring myself to throw away.
I complained about a box of popsicle brand pops once. They actually had mint flavor and cinnamon ice pops mixed in the box with grape and cherry. That was so gross and my kids wanted to physically hurt me for bringing them in the house. I went to the website, shot them an email with my opinion, and they sent me a coupon for any Popsicle/Breyers/Klondike product. I bought the most expensive Klondike bar package I could find to compensate for the cheap box of popsicles. My kids liked me again.
Michael: What do you think of when you hear the name, "Sudden Valley"?
George Michael Bluth: Salad dressing. But I don't want to eat it.
Michael: What about, "Paradise Gardens"?
George Michael Bluth: Yeah... that's better. I can see myself marinating a chicken in that.
@Burgandy: Yeah, but I have one childhood recipe that only tastes like mom made it when made with Kraft Creamy French. Otherwise I stick with Naturally Fresh, Newman's Own, and Ken's. And homemade. :D But I want my mom-food!
I think the company's solution was reasonable in this case. If wouldn't have been if they had only allowed the product he dislikes, but offering a selection from any other dressing gives him a chance to try something new instead.
Maybe it's one of those acquired taste recipes, like cigarettes or liver and onions.
Similar happened to me with "Vegetable Thins" crackers. They used to rock and be in interesting shapes. Now they are boring and taste like assholes. I fired off an email saying I was sad that they changed for the worse ("new recipe!" on the box) and they said "we don't have anything here saying that we ever changed the formulation" and sent me a coupon for more crackers. Greeeeaat. Thanks team! I don't want more of your bad product, I just want to tell you why I won't be buying it!
@XianZhuXuande: I disagree- if the CSR used the word "reimburse", which the poster implies she did, I'd be annoyed if I saw anything other than money in the envelope.
@Pinget: I've had pretty good luck making it with plain yogurt instead of buttermilk. Tastes good and, if you make your own yogurt, you know exactly what's going into it.
Kraft ranch used to be my standby, I always preferred Hidden Valley, but Kraft was usually decently cheaper and it was good enough to justify the price difference. The new stuff just tastes bad and is all gloopy. It doesn't spread itself over anything remotely moist, it just kind of balls up on it. Blech!
I have noticed a bit of a difference, now that you mention it. Hmm. It almost seems more bitter or tangy or....I can't put my finger on it, but it's not quite good. Perhaps I should switch to Hidden Valley. Or, as someone else suggested, Newman's Own. That stuff is the shit. McDonalds is evil, but they're smart enough to use Newman's dressing for their salads.
@algal924: Didn't Popsicle pops once have some "Name That Mystery Flavor!" promotion, with unmarked pops mixed in? I wonder if that's what might have happened.
I had (still have) this the other day, and thought maybe I'd gotten a bad bottle. It tastes more like mayo now.
The same thing happened to me and Golden Dipt tartar sauce. My wife loves the stuff, but we couldn't find it anywhere. Come to find out they re-branded it McCormick's Tartar sauce. My wife hated it (she said it was too sour), so I sent them an email. I get a semi-apology saying that they didn't change the formula and a coupon for another.
@Confuzius: Kraft is no longer owned by Philip Morris, or the Altria Group. Stay current!
If we're throwing out brand names, I generally like Marie's - especially for Bleu Cheese, but the Ranch isn't terrible either.
Anyone suppose thatthe "new recipe" is really just the grocery shrink ray, perhaps swapping ingredients for cheaper substitutes.
I also tried the Kraft Ranch a while back and thought it was the worst Ranch I'd ever had. I didn't realize they had changed their recipe.
I ended up next trying the store brand Ranch dressing (in this case, Jewel) and thought it was really good. Yummy dressing at 1/2 the price. I may never go back.
I've never liked Kraft's ranch dressing, but the Zesty Italian is quite good. Send me your coupon if you don't want it. :)
I bought some because it was on sale. I thought it had gone rancid. Guess I was wrong- it's the new recipe. Since the OP has a coupon for a free bottle of dressing, I'd go with Italian or something that is hard for Kraft to mess up...
I started making dressings from scratch a few years ago. Whenever I would buy bottled dressing after that they always tasted way too sour or like corn syrup. This was before everyone started changing recipes to cut ingredient costs.
I bought Heinz ketchup this summer, one of those big two bottle packs. I love ketchup but don't eat it as often lately. I had some on fries and it was so awful. It was like red tinted corn syrup and vinegar. There was no tomato flavor or consistency to it.
Its not owned by them anymore.
I am a food scientist and work with Kraft often. They removed artificial chemicals that were used as preservatives, so now they have to use food acids such as citric acid to keep the pH low enough to keep on the shelf for months. SO, they did not add chemicals, they took them out. I guess you all like what chemicals do to food but you want food without them....Its hard to maintain the flavor without them.
@Cocotte: Agreed!
"Why would I want another bottle of the same stuff I wrote in to complain about how badly it tastes?"
No one is forcing you to buy another ranch bottle. Sounds like it's a free bottle of dressing, try one of their other flavor.
@XianZhuXuande: Or they could have given him his money back. As in "Your satisfaction is guaranteed or your money back."
I only eat Hidden Valley Lite Ranch and Kraft Zesty Italian. I'm not usually picky about brand names and stuff, but with salad dressing and toilet paper, its got to be the real thing.
The Creamy French is different, too. Says on the bottle "same great recipe!" Totally not. My husband didn't see the bottle, so he didn't know it was different, and he was all, "Why'd you buy a different French? I don't like this."