Business · Companies · 56 mins ago
Quality Street faces complaints over ingredients, taste and smaller tubs
Quality Street customers are complaining about changes to the chocolates, with some saying they taste waxy.
The sweets were first made in 1936, and ingredient comparisons show the recipe has changed over time.
A 2001 ingredients list included real fruit, while the 2026 version has strawberry- and coconut-flavoured sweets but no actual strawberries or coconut.
Palm oil was introduced over the past 20 years, and critics say it is a cheap substitute for cocoa butter that can affect taste and texture.
The tubs have also become smaller, dropping from 600g in 2024 to 550g in 2025; manufacturers cite rising production and ingredient costs.
Nestlé has scrapped its paper-tub trial, which began in October 2024, and no further next steps are stated.
Quality Street customers have complained that the chocolates taste worse and contain palm oil and other ingredients.
The Daily Mail reported that the 2026 ingredients list no longer includes real strawberries, apricots or coconut, which appeared in a list from 2001.
The tubs were reduced from 600g in 2024 to 550g in 2025, with manufacturers citing rising production and ingredient costs.
Nestle scrapped plans for paper packaging that had been trialled in October 2024.
- Who
- Quality Street customers have complained about the chocolates and their packaging. Nestle owns the brand.
- What
- Customers have criticised the ingredients, taste and smaller tubs.
- When
- The article was published on 13 November 2026. It reports changes to tub size in 2024 and 2025.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- Customers say the recipe changes have harmed the taste. Manufacturers have blamed smaller tubs on rising production and ingredient costs.
Quality Street customers
Manufacturers
Taste
Quality Street customers
Customers say the chocolates taste worse and complain about palm oil.
Manufacturers
Not stated
Tub size
Quality Street customers
Customers have complained about smaller tubs.
Manufacturers
Manufacturers have blamed the reduction on rising production and ingredient costs.
Nestle trialled new paper packaging for Quality Street.
Quality Street tubs were available in 600g sizes.
The tubs were reduced to 550g.
The Daily Mail reported that Nestle had scrapped plans to introduce the paper packaging.
- Brand owner
- Nestle
- Earlier tub size
- 600g in 2024
- Reduced tub size
- 550g in 2025
- Paper packaging trial
- October 2024
- Earlier ingredients list
- 2001 list included strawberries, apricots and coconut
What people are saying
Clearly their taste testers don't have tastebuds. They're rotten. They're full of palm oil.
cheap bulk filler
There is no place for palm oil in chocolate – end of.