We're all looking for ways to save money, and if there's an Aldi near you, you can definitely
pocket some cash on groceries.
With Aldi blowing up the US market, you'll likely find yourself heading to this European
favorite very soon.
But, like anywhere else, not everything is a great buy.
Here are some of the worst foods you'll find in the aisles of Aldi.
Pre-ripened avocados
You've got a few options when it comes to Aldi avocados, one of which happens to be
the pre-ripened variety.
"Is there anything avocados can't pull off?
No."
These avos are more expensive, and according to The Guardian, that's not the only thing
that makes them a thumbs down.
There are no real regulations on ready-to-use avocados - and oftentimes, they're not actually
ripe at all.
Plan ahead, spend less, and skip these tricky Aldi-cados.
Overpriced chicken and turkey
One of Aldi's biggest draws is their great deals.
But there aren't deep discounts on everything.
When Clark.com compared Aldi, Kroger, and Walmart, Aldi's chicken and turkey were regularly
priced higher than at least one of their competitors.
Cheat Sheet found the same, and recommends checking the sale prices at other stores before
settling on turkey at Aldi.
Sub-par butter
Really good butter can be the difference between an okay dish and a great one.
But butter prices have been on the rise - and not just at Aldi.
So since you're gonna be paying for it, you might as well get your money's worth, with
a top-rated brand like Kerrygold.
According to The Kitchn, it's the year-round green grass that Kerrygold's cows graze on
that makes the difference.
So skip the other brands, and go for the good stuff at Aldi.
Sugar-packed cereal
Let's face it, sugary cereals taste so good.
But they're not so good for you.
And Aldi's got some sugar bombs hiding on its shelves.
According to The Telegraph, Aldi's Harvest Morn Choco Rice saw an 18.2 percent increase
in sugar content from 2012 to 2015.
And Choice rated some of Aldi's cereals 2.5 out of 5 stars, for being loaded with sugar
and salt.
When it comes to Aldi cereals, read your labels carefully.
Cheap milk and veggies
Aldi has been accused of seriously pressuring dairy farmers.
Selling cheap milk means sourcing it at a lower price, and in 2012 The Guardian reported
that some dairy farmers were facing bankruptcy thanks to discount stores like Aldi.
And the same goes for that low cost on produce.
In 2014, The Irish Farmer's Association condemned Aldi for reducing rates for sourced veg by
as much as 10 percent.
And when Aldi didn't pay, farmers couldn't keep their businesses in the black.
In 2016 AgriLand reported that farmers even started protesting at Aldi stores.
If it saves the world's farms, paying a few pennies more is worth it.
Poorly-processed fish
"Can anyone tell me where fish come from?"
"Aldi!"
In October 2017, the AP reported that some brands of fish - including Aldi's Sea Queen
- were being processed in China by North Korean workers.
Further investigation found the North Korean government took as much as 70 percent of these
workers' salaries, siphoning money from China into North Korea.
Check that fish for Chinese origins - to know what business you're truly supporting.
Eggs from unhappy chickens
In 2016, Aldi announced that all their eggs would be cage-free by 2025.
But as of mid-2018, while there are free range eggs available at many locations, Aldi says
they quote, "respond to customer demand" - which means, not every egg comes from a happy chicken.
According to Ethical Consumer's findings, the low-priced eggs Aldi stocks are labeled
"enriched cage" - which isn't exactly cruelty-free.
Until all of Aldi's hens are happily cage-free, be extra-careful when selecting your eggs.
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