Wheat Thins Manufacturer (Kraft) Talks To Snack Girl

Awesome! Good to know there is a dialogue and that people are actually listening to each other. We often forget in this fast paced world that things take time to change. Packaging has to be remade, factories have to be re-tooled, recipes have to be reformulated and tested. We forget that when this is on such a HUGE scale, it can take years - often more time than we would like. A dialogue is the first step. Thanks!!

Deb

Smart companies are waking up. Companies used to laugh at blogs until they realized how many people are getting their information from them now. Many blogs are becoming just as influential as traditional media outlets, and smart companies will pay attention.

So congrats Snack Girl! The fact that so many companies are willing to respond to you when you question them is proof of how successful your blog has become!

Paul Kremer

Sadly, I don't know if it's reasonable to try to get companies to discard all unhealthy choices. There will always be a market for such products.

Personally, I don't even mind if a company has some bad choices, as long as they offer good choices to those of us who want them. Until recently though, there were no good choices at McDonald's, including their salads! It was through the efforts of blogs and consumers like this, though, that started getting fast food joints to start offering things like apples instead of fries, milk instead of soda, etc.

I like this blog because it informs on things that appear healthy, but really aren't. It alerts me to super-unwise choices at restaurants. It gives me fun and interesting ideas to try. And maybe, just maybe, it generates the kind of buzz needed so that companies will pay attention and pay more attention to better ingredients rather than just spending all their money on marketing.

When you accomplish all that, you are most certainly successful.

Paul Kremer

Thanks so much for writing about The Whole Grains Council!

Alison Clancy

That's great Kraft responded! I have to say I bought a box of Wheat thins a few months ago and they tasted really sweet. Not like a cracker at all and I figured the recipe had changed. I am not fond of the new taste, much prefer triscuits.

In terms of asking McD's about the frappe, I'd ask if they could use nonfat milk instead or if that waters down the taste too much use half and half instead of cream. Or at least do it made to order so those of us that want a healthier option can get non fat milk :)

Jasmine

I'm very impressed! Kudos to you for speaking up, and kudos to them for taking the time to respond. :)

Roxy

Um... I think you might have missed the story here. In his reply, Mr. Maglaris told you that the product Kraft markets as "Original" Wheat Thins is actually a new type of cracker with significant changes compared to the original recipe. In other words, "Original" doesn't mean original. Isn't that a glaring example of the deceptive marketing which is at the root of the problem?

Personally, I don't mind that big food companies produce unhealthy products. I can make smart choices as long as the products are labeled correctly. I do mind, however, when companies lie to me and say something is organic when it is not, or say something is low-fat when it is not. In this case, the lie of "Original" may not have adverse health consequences, but it demonstrates how untrustworthy these companies are -- they always choose market advantage over truth.

I'd be curious to know what Mr. Maglaris has to say about this, because my perception is that he and other Kraft executives don't have a clue how their products are perceived by the public. They live in a world where words mean whatever their legal department says they mean, and then are surprised when the public comes to regard them as lying bastards.

TC

My take on all this is that when I bought the "Original" wheat thins that's what I expected to be eating. The "new and improved" ones taste like a bland, unsalted soft cracker, more on the idea of a low-sodium Ritz cracker, just shaped differently. If I'd wanted whole grain Wheat Thins I'd have opted for that box rather than the "original" flavor! I totally agree with truth in advertising, and if the box is marked "Original" it should BE "Original". Original Wheat Thins are what people know and love, leave them alone!

Madelyn

Have to agree with Madelyn - my kids noticed first that the crackers looked different (nine holes in them - unlike the pic on the box). Then we tasted them - they didn't crunch, they were soft and did not taste anything like the original wheat thins. Big bummer.

Jodi-O

I am in agreement with Jodi-O and her children. We noticed changes in taste and look (nine holes) upon opening our latest box of "Original Wheat Thins." Just called the 800 number, they acknowledged recipe changes noted above, but had nothing to say about the change in look. The NEW Original Wheat Thins are not as firm, therefore more susceptible to breaking when used for dips. I prefer the former taste, but am pleased that the new version is healthier. I just think that the company should acknowledge on packaging when they change a recipe, not try to pass it off as "original."

VJS

I just bought a box of original wheat thins and hadn't had them since 2006. The new and improved original Wheat Thins are horrible. The taste and texture are completely different. I understand the health concerns, but the change made an entirely different product. These are not Wheat Thins.

mark

I am not liking these so called ORIGINAL Wheat Thins at all. Please bring back the real ORIGINAL ones they are much better. Guess I will havew to switch the kind of cracker I eat, plus if I choose to eat a healthier cracker I will buy a healthier cracker. now bring them back!!!

Joanna

I'm not a fan of these new original wheat thins either! Bring back the old one please!

Debby's

These "new"wheat thins are absolutely disgusting. Please bring the old ones back!

Mark

I bought a box of Wheat Thins on a whim (not a regular staple in my diet). They were disappointing to say the least. Doughy and soft (like a stale box of WT's), bland and just not the same. Also disappointing is the "Original" on the package. Please bring back the good old crunch!

Jason

The newer Formuation of wheat thins are sweeter than the wheat thins of old.....they are horrible....taste more like graham crackers than a wheat thin....in addition, the great texture of the older formulation as been lost.....so has my dedication to the brand......will be looking for a new favorite cracker!

Rob

Purchased my favorite snack cracker, wheat thins

Original and noticed that they did not taste the same. The cracker is very dry,hard to chew and

has very little taste to it. Then I noticed that it said 100 % whole grain and I don't usually

buy the 100% whole grain because i don't like the

taste of that variety. I told my husband he picked up the wrong kind and he said that is all

they have on the shelf now. Does that mean that you have discontinued the delicious original

flavor that I have bought for years and replaced it with THIS ! If so I will just have to find

another snack cracker, how dissapointing. I just

don't understand why companies do this to a great

product.

Christine Samson

I found out about this by buying a box of "Original" wheat thins and after eating one, thinking "What did they do?" The new "original" cracker is a tasteless thing, nothing like the wheat thins I've enjoyed all my life. How said to see they will be discontinuing the old

as, like New Coke" I will never be eating Wheat thins again.

Bill

Well we just spent Memorial Day in the great debate of WHEAT THINS...We all agreed they were horrid.soooo sweet...so no one ate them...the debate was..is it ethical to use the word original...NOT won out..now please give us our REAL ORIGINAL wheat thins back..Thank you

jeanne sanders