New! Planters® Dry Roasted Cashews

A few weeks ago I blogged about house brands vs. national brands. One of the things I discussed in that post is the fact that the quality of some national brands seems to be slipping. In the cashew department, I particularly noted that Planters cashews were particularly offensive for their extreme greasiness. This is what happens when big megabrands like Kraft buy up smaller brands with food expertise like Planters, and when tobacco companies buy up brands they have no business in...like Kraft. Kraft hasn't been the same since it was purchased. At any rate, I was a little surprised when I saw new dry-roasted Planters cashews on the shelf at the store. I was also a little surprised that I found myself picking them up and putting them in my basket. I don't know what I was thinking.

Well, let me tell you what was no surprise: they sucked. Kraft never knew how to make a good nut when they bought Planters, and they still don't. I was a little shocked to find that there was also sugar, corn syrup solids, MSG, paprika, dried yeast, and a lot of other crap on the cashews. Gee Kraft, don't you think that the nuts are good enough without all that junk on them? Are you using inferior nuts that you have to dress up? The Kirkland brand that I love, as well as a number of other brands, only have cashews, salt, and perhaps a trace amount of oil. That's it, and let me tell you, Kraft, that's all a nut needs to taste great.

Shout out to Mr. Peanut: your nuts are nasty.