So we’ve still only just passed the new year really and the ‘new year new me’ mentality towards healthy eating is still underway for some I presume (25% of you already broke this during the first week of January, studies suggest, not me, studies). The remaining 75%? Well done but, give it 6 months and you too shall join the dark side of all things fried and wonderful (Again, studies). I’m bringing this up really because I want to now discuss some not so healthy treats with an audience who aren’t in the middle of cutting their sweet potatoes and are more in the process of deciding if they should add stuffed crust to their large meat feast like they did on Tuesday or just settle for the garlic bread, wings, barbecued chicken strips, onion rings, chocolate chip cookie dough with strawberry cheesecake and vanilla ice cream with flake and sprinkles as their pre-dinner…snack.

Mmhm. This audience needs an appetite. Specifically? An appetite for crème eggs. Let’s talk about crème eggs. I was biting into one of those innocent pleasures the other day when I suddenly noticed that the ‘inside yellow bit’ had been replaced with LIQUIDY MILK AND MELTED MOZZARELLA CHEESE WITH…okay that’s not correct. The recipe has changed though. It looked the same, it tasted the same, it appeared that it even was the same but… it’s not. The inside yellowy bit is fine but what’s an egg without its shell? What’s a house without its walls? What’s a piano without its keys people?! Before you even reach the yellow bit, you have to get through an oval protective layer of chocolate madness. You’re aware of the gooey delight that’s to come but you’re not tasting ANY of it unless you pass security. Prove you’ve got what it takes. That’s the first thing you taste andddd that’s what has been changed. From its dairy milk delight to a standard cocoa mix. From a branded sensation to a basic ingredient. They thought we wouldn’t notice too. (Well I didn’t notice at all to be honest but deep down I knew something wasn’t right. Deep, deep down.)

ANYway, social media has gone into uproar concerning this (I wouldn’t know but… I mean I’ve heard some stuff). The classic box of 6 has even reduced to an interesting non classic box of five AND the price has not been reduced to compensate. What is all this?! The only justification that’s been offered is that within the 45 years that crème eggs have graced this Earth, the recipe has changed several times with all sorts of chocolate having been used interchangeably. Is that supposed to make us feel better? Just because this has been going on since birth without us noticing does NOT mean we should accept it now thank you very much. I’ve been eating bowls of icing sugar as full blown meals for the past couple of years but that doesn’t make it right! (It really is though, don’t knock it till you’ve thrown up from it).

Another reason for this horrendous substitute is that the price of commodities have increased and so businesses have had to reduce costs as a result and restrict their production output.

These changes have been made in response to consumer research but considering there’s been complaints and protests from several shoppers, I’m not too sure of the type of consumer research that was actually done. And anyway, what crème egg loving consumer would voluntarily suggest to replace the dairy milk chocolate AND reduce the quantity they receive whilst still happily agreeing to pay the same price? It’s been said that price levels are set by individual shops themselves, hence why prices for this new 5 box are ranging from £2-£3.05 (Baring in mind the price of a 6 pack just a year ago was just £2). It’s also been said that we as consumers should not expect chocolate eggs to be packaged in the same quantity as real eggs.

Well I mean that’s just ridiculous. Of course we are not comparing crème eggs to real life chicken eggs (which are even cheaper by the way- check out Farmfoods). It’s not like I expect a kitkat to be the same size as a…cat (…horrific example but you get the idea). All we ask is that recipes are not secretly changed and that we get a decent size worth of goods for our money! In fact, I’m switching to Jammie Dodgers. That’s right. They’re coming out with a new ‘grown up’ version of biscuits called ‘Jammie Bakes’. Same golden biscuit, same soft jammie centre at £1.49 (Crème eggs take note) – the differences being the target audience it’s aimed at- an older generation of people, the variety of flavours available and the lack of the iconic heart shaped centre. It’s working though. Sales are currently at £21million a year which has compensated for the advertising campaign in 2011 which cost £4.5 million in a bid to boost the dropping sales.

That’s an uplifting end at least. Crème eggs may be chopping our money but at least other brands are reinventing themselves and keeping prices at an affordable amount.

Stay Tuned! Comment Below! (And in the meantime, Let’s think about why parents are banned from calling their child Nutella.)