End of an Era

This is my happy space. I don't like to moan and I don't like to rant, but every so often something just gets me cross and here's where I get to see if I'm the only one!
I know times change. I know it's not always a bad thing. But sometimes, I am struck by how unimaginative and inappropriate change can be so utterly disappointing.
Have you ever licked the end of a Sherbert Fountain and then placed it back on the shelf? Not even long ago, when you only had 6p to spend and wanted a Mars bar instead? No, of course you haven't and nor have I.
But I accept that, to some, the lack of sealed packaging is a little bit 20th century and may alarm those wishing to fully absorb themselves in the vacuum packed, safety conscious and hygienic times in which we now live. Not least the new owners of this sweetie brand, Tangerine Confectionary.
I was, however, greatly saddened having finally purchased this new version of an old favourite. Do you see? It even needs opening instructions! I mean what use is that to your average 5 year old?
And what does a child do when their slippery little fingers can't get it open? They use their shiny white teeth of course!
So, aside of the obvious issue that, having eaten our Sherbert Fountain, we are left with a hard plastic case and the plastic shrink wrap outer to pop into landfill...
...why oh why are there no air vents in that lid?! When was the last time you used a felt pen or marker intended for a child to use that did not have a vented lid to prevent choking?
So, come on Tangerine. What exactly is the benefit of this new packaging? And wouldn't I prefer to have a bit of soggy paper rather than a choke hazzard and all this nasty plastic? Oh yes I would! With a bit more imaginative aforethought I'm sure someone could have done better and still achieved a tamper-evident piece of packaging!
(and whilst you're wondering.. no I didn't think it tasted as good; it was bitter!).
I'm off to eat a Sherbert DibDab before they ruin that too! t.x

Comments

MelMel said…
Wow....scary!
What ARE they playing at!!

Why does EVERYTHING have to change....:>(((

xx
Pomona said…
Only one word for it - ghastly! And far too shiny - yuk!

Pomona x
vanessa said…
I'm shaking my head in disbelief at what they've done! Shaking my head some more. What a travesty! Well, I've been forwarned at least. Otherwise I can imagine the cry of horror coming from me whilst standing in a shop. I'm totally with you in your dismay teena!
Love Vanessa xxx (do you mind if i knit)
Twiggy said…
Isn't that pants. I walked by a bakers shop today and they were selling gingerbread men as ginger persons !!!!
Twiggy x
MelMel said…
I just spent a few lovely min's looking at the AGA puic's and the kitchen pic's utterly lovely!

I do so enjoy your well put together blog.....fun!x
Rhiannon said…
Shocked and appalled.

Shocked.

And Appalled.

Sweets will never be so much fun ever again :(
xxx
Horrified over here (and the other half is a risk manager – and even he thinks its utterly ridiculous!). They really should stop messing with things... This is like when they made fabs and zooms smaller. So wrong. (I hope that's what happened and I didn't get hugely bigger!)
claire said…
oh thats really rubbish - elf and safety gone cr-azy!!
Hell's Bells! It looks like a tube of UHU Glue(with its lid on!) (I shan't make any jokes about sticking it up your nose instead........)!! Hope they don't "mess" with sherbert dib dabs, I know a very special little person who has only just learnt to cope with them and she would miss them terribly. Sigh................
Bobo Bun said…
I've already stockpiled the 'proper' ones so I had enough before they were destroyed in the name of progress. Funnily enough I don't like liquorice, it's the soggy paper mixed with sherbet that stirs my taste buds.

I won't bother to bring a furry on Sunday for you to cuddle then.
And I know they are biscuits rather than sweets, BUT, don't get me on the subject of Jammy Dodgers..... Nowhere near as pretty as they used to be! :O(
Unknown said…
No it's not just you , I think that is all very sad .
Sandi said…
You are right, absolutely ghastly!!! It looks all 'plasticy' - ughh!
We still have the original version here (Australia) in our local sweets shop. I guess we'll eventually get these ones foisted upon us. :(
It is the end of an era! What a load of tosh about H&S; they HAD to change it for HYGIENE reasons but because they are a bunch of idiots it is now a CHOKING hazard which is far worse! Er...doh! However, for the UK, it sounds about right! x
Fancy Elastic said…
well said.

It is the landfill element that makes me most cross. Shouldn't environmental impact be top of minds for both the consumer and the manufacturer?

They clearly did not research this decision.
Shabby Chick said…
It's rubbish, I love(d) sherbert fountains and now they look ridiculous.

A crosspatch Mel xxx
Flower Girl said…
Oh no! That's ruined it! I bought an original style one a couple of days ago to put with some other bits and bobs for a friend's 40th birthday - looks like I was just in time!! I can't believe that nobody at the company spotted the potential hazards with the new packaging. 'Ginger persons' (twiggypeasticks, above) - why not just call them biscuits and be done with it! It's all getting really silly.... Rebecca x
The Curious Cat said…
I agree ghastly...we are getting so stupidly obsessed with hygiene it is ridiculous...perhaps in years to come cats and dogs will be banned in homes for hygiene reasons eh?! Does it still have the licorice straw? I hope so, I'd heard rumours they were replacing it too... I know we can get set in our ways but this is a stupid move - especially with the fact it is no longer biodegradable... I think a boycott or protest letter is called for! How much is it now a days too?!
The Curious Cat said…
PS I hear penny sweets were done away with ages ago for hygiene reasons too....you only see these rarely now...
The Curious Cat said…
PPS - I hate what they've done to tooty fruttis now too and taken out half the colouring...I know it is for the kids benefit but they are sweets...!!! They looked and tasted better before...
pinkfairygran said…
Well, whatever next? Do they still sell sweet cigarettes, or are they non PC nowadays? And flying saucers, are they permissible or likely to lead a child into thinking there are other life forms out there who fly around in flying saucers? Penny Arrow bars.. I bet none of you remember them, unless you are getting on for 60 like I am....and what would they be called now I wonder?
You really would think that these days, when everychaone is trying to reduce landfill, they'd go back to using paper instead of nging to plastic wouldn't you? I'm annoyed every time I see KitKats that aren't in their paper & foil wrappers too!

Jayne
Anonymous said…
I hope you've found someone a long way up the management chain you can send a complaint about the choking hazard to, it's totally ridiculous. A lot of the time it's not H & S at fault, it's the interpretation put on it by some underling with ideas above their station!
Helen said…
FABULOUS!! I love a good rant!! Bet you feel better now you've got it off your chest!
Helen x
Clare said…
Quite right...you rant away! OOH I love these and now after reading this I'm going to have to traipse round the 'local' shops to find one..failing that perhaps a curly wirly ('far too elaborate' as Vic Reeves said!)
ooh that made me angry too! you've got SO many good points there!
you should def bring them up on the lack of air vents. x
I read a while ago that they were going to change the packaging but this is the first time I've actually seen what they've done. Absolute sacrilege. How come there hasn't been a problem with that bit of licorice sticking out of the paper twist for at least 50 years that I know of, and those silly 'elf'n'safety bods come along and ruin everything?

Sue x
A Bun Can Dance said…
Ridiculous!
I am amazed at the amount of hermetically sealed packaging there is in the world - next thing we know babies will be born already shrink wrapped in cling film! I think the new sherbet fountain looks dreadful and as for the plastic - what nonsense! Bring on the dirt and germs, I say - maybe if we had a bit more exposure to good old dirt there would be fewer allergies in the world....
Rant over....
Have a good week
Denise x
Katie said…
I'm with you...down with the nasty plastic packaging! Soggy paper sherbet fountains will forever be in my treasure bank of fabulous childhood memories. Katie x
Primchick said…
Come over to my blog.... I blogged recently about a little trip down memory lane.... it might help...?
Marion ;0))
Joshy and belle said…
thats really bad, especially the choking hazard! i vote for soggy over shiny any day!
It's awful, isn't it? They're one of Mr Kitsch's favourites and he's in deep mourning. He may never be able to face one again....
Ashley said…
What! This is an abomination! I was just home in the U.K. and had a sherbet fountain, in the old (recyclable) packaging I guess. Grrr, and I thought paying 22p for one was bad!
claudie said…
WOW did you bring some "puckering" to my cheeks with this post.
Of course I remember, and now this? OH MY
What is going on in this world. My kids never even tasted one yet, let alone have plastic around it now.
I will be on the look out for the "old fashion" ones. They might be worth $$$$ lol
Have a great week
Love Claudie
xo
THISNTHAT said…
So sad, what is the world coming too. My husband's sweet tooth (admitedly soon to be his only tooth if he eats so much sugar!) will never be the same again!
Lesley X