Aldi’s everyday, budget-friendly pricing allows people of all incomes to save money on groceries. However, not every item Aldi sells is a hit.
Some of its dupes just aren’t up to the standards of its inspiration, and produce quality varies across the board. However, some products are downright duds.
We’ve got the 12 Aldi products customers refuse to purchase, according to Reddit.
Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account
Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!1
With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!
This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.
Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.
Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today
Diet soda
For years, Aldi customers have ragged on its diet soda offerings. The storefront’s “Summit” diet cola is a notoriously bad alternative to other trusted brands like Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
Says one Reddit user: “It’s awful - such a weird spicy-ish after taste - disgusting,” while another further explains, “Tastes like when you get the wrong syrup mixture from a soda fountain.”
Cat food
As someone who has tested several iterations of Aldi’s cat food on my cats at home, I know they’re never as thrilled about it as they are about other brands.
One Reddit user explains, “Our cats refuse to eat it, even the canned stuff.” This seems to be a common reaction to their food, even with the great price point.
Another Redditor expands, “I found my cat eating the dog's food, lol. I’ve never seen her refuse to eat anything, but apparently, Aldis cat food is a nope.”
Coffee creamers
While Aldi’s store-brand powdered creamers are about on par with other powdered options — which isn’t high praise — many Reddit users have to rely on other stores for better-tasting creamers.
Enthuses one Redditor, “I hate that I have to shop at another store just for coffee creamer, I hate the taste of this!”
Get a protection plan on all your appliances
Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more.
Whether or not you’re a new homeowner, a home warranty from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where insurance falls short and protect you against surprise expenses. If a covered system in your home breaks, you can call their hotline 24/7 to get it repaired.
For a limited time, you can get your first month free with a Single Payment home warranty plan.
Onions
For years, Aldi shoppers have posted on Reddit about the retailer’s quality of produce. With the frequency with which they talk trash about the quality of onions at Aldi, you have to wonder if the situation will ever improve.
“I get one, maybe two usable onions out of a bag on the day I bought them!” complains one user. “They seem fine at first glance, but then you cut into them and they're soft and mushy.”
Many people agree, claiming to purchase onions instead at farmer’s markets and local grocers.
Stackerz
While the internet is divided about whether they love the flavor of Aldi’s Stackerz — a take on classic Pringles — the texture of the chips is causing mass disappointment.
One Redditor with celiac disease, who tried them because they’re gluten-free, ranted, “Absolutely awful! Worse than quite a few gf items I’ve had over the years and that’s saying something, because some gf items are absolutely disgusting. I had to throw them out.”
Trending Stories
Savoritz Baked Cheese Crackers
Aldi likes to put its own spin on snack favorites. Their Savoritz Baked Cheese Crackers are a dupe for Cheezits, but they seem to fall a bit flat.
Users compare the almost nonexistent flavor to saltines, and one even admits their toddler won’t eat the cheese crackers. Once opened, they also tend to become stale pretty quickly.
Cucumbers
The consensus across the internet seems to be that if you need cucumbers, Aldi is not the place to stock up. Even though they are priced better than most other options, the low price seems to come with lower quality.
Even the pre-wrapped organic cucumbers spoil fast. Many people echo the sentiments of this Reddit user, who admits: “I stopped buying them at Aldi over a year ago because they rotted so quickly.”
Thai Coconut Chicken
While Aldi’s Thai Coconut Chicken was originally a darling in the Reddit sphere, it’s since fallen from grace with a new recipe.
Users have big feelings, like this one: “Yeah, it went from being an instant buy to an always skip. Even if I heard it was better again, I feel scarred from the last one I bought.”
Pizza rolls
Pizza rolls — an otherwise easy, cheap staple — are getting called out for being disgusting online.
Aldi’s Mama Cozzi brand doesn’t sit well with customers, whether they bake them in the oven or toss them in the microwave. Says one Reddit user: “Even drunk me had to throw them in the trash.”
Stop overpaying when you shop online
Shopping online has its perks. It's super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don't always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.
Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it'll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you're buying is available cheaper somewhere else.
Capital One Shopping is free to use and won't show you ads. Add it today and stop overpaying!2
Strawberries
While a couple of shipments of Aldi strawberries arrived in the midwest really big and plump this year with perfect shelf life, it doesn’t seem to be the case across the board.
Most of the time, they have an unreliable amount of time before they go moldy. And, unfortunately, it happens faster than you’d like.
“They mold on the drive home,” complains one Redditor, while another says, “I WISH they lasted 3 days.”
Cream cheese
If you like your cream cheese for shmear, stick to the whipped tubs at Aldi instead of their plain bricks of cream cheese. While it’s fine to add to recipes, customers don’t like the lack of flavor or consistency when working with it or eating it as a plain dip or spread.
“Their cream cheese is comically bad,” says one Redditor while another doubles down, “Wow. It’s bad. Super bland and oddly thick, almost rubbery.”
Trash bags
Aldi customers can’t get over the low quality of the trash bags. People keep comparing the bags to the trash items that are thrown into them, with one Reddit user specifying,
“They stuck together so bad I couldn't open them up to put trash in them! Boulder brand is about as useless as rocks.”
Bottom line
Aldi offers many incredible, budget-friendly alternatives to your favorite brand-name foods to help you stretch your shopping budget.
In fact, they have so many fun options that even the bad ones shouldn’t discourage you from taking advantage of their low everyday prices.
Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Current Offer
$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Benefits
- Low spend threshold for its welcome offer — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Cell phone protection benefit (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Can redeem rewards at an ATM for literal cash
Drawbacks
- Foreign transaction fee of 3%
- No bonus categories
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Subscribe Today
Want extra-cash moves to come right to you?
Stop browsing endlessly. Get proven ways to earn pocket money, help cover rent, and crush your debt — sent to your inbox daily.