Faux McVities

This is what a packet of McVitie's Milk Chocolate Digestives looks like in Intermarche, and it costs the princely sum of around €3.85, sometimes more. I accept that you have to pay an arm and a leg, but you do get the original fab-tasting biscuit.

The other day, one of my friends was in Supermarche Casino and rang me to say she'd found a packet of McVitie's at €1.85. Whoopie doo! She bought it and I went round to get it a few days later.

The packet looked something like this:
A box. That's not normal, it should be a packet. I delved inside, opened the interior packet and took a bite.

Disappointment. It was not a true McVitie's Milk Chocolate Digestive, but a pale imitation. I suspect it's been made especially for the French market and as they'll accept any old digestive rubbish, the recipe has been adapted to these undiscerning tastes.

The biscuit itself is tasteless, the chocolate is bland and there's just a measly thin layer where it should be thick and creamy and delicious. Frankly I'm having trouble finishing the box.

I went onto McVitie's website to let them know exactly what I thought without having to write a formal letter, print it off, find an envelope and send it by snailmail. They do provide a Contact Us page which is a pain to use and you only have a limited number of characters with which to express your frustrated rage.

I wrote a summary, hit Send, and I'm not sure whether it actually went off as I got no receipt or jolly message thanking me for taking the time to contact them.

It's a common occurence, of course, adapting foods to local tastes. I remember in Egypt, the Mars Bar was disgusting. It tasted of plastic chocolate and had a tasteless filling. A pointless thing to eat. Rather like these French McVitie's in fact. I certainly won't be buying them again, €1.85 or no €1.85.

I suppose I'd better send a letter though. Will they admit their dodgy dealings? (Yes, we admit it, Ms Hague, we are skimping on ingredients because those Froggies know nothing about a decent digestive and we can sell them any old rubbish. We know a true Brit like yourself is probably horrified at the taste - we never eat them ourselves, we get real ones sent over - so we'll send you a year's supply of the Real Thing in the hope that you'll accept our apologies for ruining your day and causing such huge disappointment.)

I would be gracious in victory, natch.