@computerwiz3491: As did I. More related to the story, I stopped buying Always Save vegetables for this exavt reason-unless I wanted carrots and potatoes, that is.

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pecan 3.14159265

@computerwiz3491: I did too. I thought there was some kind of soup recipe involved.

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MostlyHarmless

July 16, 2009 11:30 PM

@pecan 3.14159265: Ditto.

Also, why dont you have a star yet?

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pecan 3.14159265

July 16, 2009 11:32 PM

@MostlyHarmless: Maybe Consumerist hasn't come up with a pie shape instead of a star?

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jdmba

Next you will say that the burger you get at burger king looks NOTHING like the picture ...

6 replies

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esc27

July 17, 2009 1:45 PM

@jdmba: I watched a worker making my burger at a local fast food place once. It looked almost exactly like in the picture, then he put it in the wrapper, mashed it down to about half its original height, and I got the same deformed (but tasty) burger as always.

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Corporate_guy

July 17, 2009 1:25 AM

@jdmba: Looking like the picture and containing the same portions of vegetables are a little different. If the vegetables were still there and just looked bad, it would then be the same.

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savdavid

July 17, 2009 12:56 AM

Which would be true. Their ads lie.

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RogerTheAlien

July 17, 2009 3:22 AM

@savdavid: Every fastfood joint lies. Hell, I would be more outraged, I think, if it DID look like the ads; I wouldn't know if it was really a \"real\" burger.

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bogart27

July 17, 2009 3:09 AM

@savdavid: Except for the ads that liken the hamburger to a large penis. Totally accurate.

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wardawg

July 16, 2009 11:30 PM

@jdmba: +1 for callback humor, -2 cause we all knew someone was going to say it.

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FDCPAGuy

The OP and Adrian Monk would be great friends I think. True it does not resemble the label in the least. I wonder if the OP took the time to inform the manufacturer. Most of them will be happy to reimburse you if you are not satisfied with their product.

1 replies

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Nytmare

July 16, 2009 11:52 PM

@FDCPAGuy: That doesn't really solve the problem or educate other consumers.

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Tian (www.tian.cc)

July 16, 2009 11:29 PM

\"Always Save Mixed Vegetables\"?

Just eat corn, they look the same before and after shat them out.

1 replies

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Tian (www.tian.cc)

July 16, 2009 11:32 PM

@Tian (www.tian.cc): probably taste the same too.

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SuzieBee20

July 16, 2009 11:31 PM

lol, the other day I opened up a bag of regular M&Ms and they were almost all red, yellow, orange, and brown. There were probably 3 blue ones and 5 green ones. At first I thought it was like a \"fall mix\" of colors!

2 replies

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Yoko Broke Up The Beatles

July 17, 2009 6:30 AM

@SuzieBee20:

DLR would like all the brown ones removed, thank you very much.

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HogwartsAlum

July 17, 2009 3:22 AM

@SuzieBee20:
No way!
I never get hardly any red ones. Not fair!

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katstermonster

July 16, 2009 11:32 PM

Blech, canned vegetables. I just can't do it. Frozen (and fresh, when affordable) all the way!

Interesting and similar study on mixed nuts... [cockeyed.com]

5 replies

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formatc

July 17, 2009 1:26 AM

@katstermonster: Grow your own. Good for both the environment and the wallet.

(Disclaimer: I am presently engaged in consuming a mix of fresh summer squash and green beans from my garden, so my opinion may be compromised by overwhelmingly delicious flavors)

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Drowner

July 17, 2009 3:13 PM

@formatc: And compromised by having enough money for a house with a yard, some free time, probably a minimal number of mouths to feed, and the physical ability to care for a garden.

Just sayin!

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katstermonster

July 17, 2009 12:52 PM

@formatc: I'm a grad student renting a room in a woman's house right now. Maybe in a few years, when I have a yard...and money.

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Coles_Law

July 17, 2009 1:43 AM

@formatc: I tried! I planted two rows of canned vegetables this spring and got nothing! Not even a single serve lunch pack!

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MostlyHarmless

July 17, 2009 3:04 AM

@Coles_Law: well played.

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nybiker

July 17, 2009 2:51 AM

@Coles_Law: +1.

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anduin

July 16, 2009 11:52 PM

@katstermonster:
mmhmm, I can't remember the last time I had canned anything

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pecan 3.14159265

July 16, 2009 11:34 PM

With things like M&Ms, I'm guessing they all get dyed separately, and then tossed together for processing, so you have one big vat of candy colors instead of three separate ones...

With vegetables, I don't think it's the same because they can get washed the same and stuffed into the can the same way. But since someone or something (like a robot) has to put the ingredients in the vats to begin with, I think it's more that carrots and potatoes are cheaper as far as canned filler goes.

1 replies

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Corporate_guy

July 17, 2009 1:26 AM

@pecan 3.14159265: All the vegetables would be processed separately and combined before canning.

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Doctor Rockso!

July 16, 2009 11:43 PM

Man, did you buy that can in a dollar store or what? You should count yourself lucky that you opened the can and there was vegetables inside.

I wonder if there are any nutrients left in those poor pathetic waterlogged little veggie tidbits at all?

2 replies

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Corporate_guy

July 17, 2009 1:27 AM

@Doctor Rockso!: Bargain brands are usually the same as brand names. It's true with everything you buy. Sometimes there are differences, but usually they are the same.

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henneko

July 17, 2009 11:02 PM

@Corporate_guy: A little while ago I bought several flats of bargain green beans at 33 cents a can. For at least the last 10 (when I noticed and started keeping track) every can has had exactly one piece of stem.

This includes the can of shredded \"french cut\" green beans that someone had mixed in, leading me to believe that this piece of stem is added just before the can is closed.

Fortunately I have yet to find anything out of the ordinary in the 33 cent canned pinto beans.

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BeerManMike

July 16, 2009 11:49 PM

Someone somewhere has a whole lot of peas, celery, lima beans and green beans in his/her can.

1 replies

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Pal

July 17, 2009 4:39 AM

@BeerManMike: +1

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HiPwr

July 16, 2009 11:49 PM

They are considered \"mixed\" because each morsel is not of uniform size. I thought everyone knew that.

2 replies

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nybiker

July 17, 2009 2:55 AM

@HiPwr: Not me. To me, \"mixed\" means a mixture of different things. Technically the OP got a can mixed vegetables, it's just that he didn't an evenly mixed assortment as is somewhat implied by the picture on the can.

As Pecan Pi (sorry, I didn't want to make a mistake with the number) said, those carrots & potatoes are cheaper. Same concept as with a bag of mixed nuts.

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katstermonster

July 17, 2009 12:54 PM

@nybiker: I could be wrong, but I think HiPwr is being sarcastic.

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DAK

July 16, 2009 11:52 PM

I guess I see where it would be a little annoying, but is this really all that big of a deal?

1 replies

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Alexander Saites

July 17, 2009 12:14 AM

@DAK: What's wrong? Are you paying by the story?

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anduin

July 16, 2009 11:53 PM

but heres a question, is that just that one can or are they all like that, it would be better to buy one from 3 seperate stores to check

1 replies

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ScarletsWalk

July 17, 2009 1:21 AM

@anduin: I get similar cans (store brands, Del Monte, etc) from time to time and although I can't say for sure it's the same proportions, I find that it is mostly carrots and potatoes.

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albear

July 16, 2009 11:58 PM

Carrots are cheap. Lima beans are expensive. :P

1 replies

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katstermonster

July 17, 2009 12:55 PM

@albear: But so delicious!

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The Black Bird

July 16, 2009 11:58 PM

Aren't they supposed to list the contents of the can in decreasing order on the label?

2 replies

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Coles_Law

July 17, 2009 1:48 AM

@Bogart's Falcon aka Philly Falcon: They probably do, but going from 146g to 3g is a huge jump. Also, the label indicates more beans and peas and very few carrots.

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The Black Bird

July 17, 2009 2:57 PM

@Coles_Law: I agree it's a huge jump and the label indicates what you've said. But if it's listed correctly in the contents area on the label than I don't think much can be done. Look at the packages of frozen dinners and then look at their contents. I don't know about you but I've never seen any of the contents look like they appears on the packaging.

However if the label doesn't list the contents in the proper order of quantity, as I believe it should, and this can is not an anomaly which it doesn't appear to be, can't the OP get in touch with the FTC or whatever governing body that handles cases such as this?

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jerrybernard

July 17, 2009 12:34 AM

Reminds me of the Pork & Beans cans where the pork was one square of pork hiding in the can.

We used to have a game at dinner where the person who got the sliver of pork in their pork and beans would have to do the dishes.

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purplegrog

July 17, 2009 1:11 AM

My first thought is to wonder whether the lopsided distribution is consistent among multiple bags. My second thought is that if he really is that upset about it, he should take them back to the grocery store from which he bought them. Most grocery stores have a quality guarantee that would let you return any items with which you are not satisfied.

1 replies

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alexburrito

July 17, 2009 1:56 AM

@purplegrog: My third thought it that this man needs a hobby!

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downwithmonstercable

July 17, 2009 1:39 AM

Bleh. The less celery, the better. He did totally get jacked on the corn and green beans though.

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tekkierich

July 17, 2009 2:16 AM

I buy store brand mixed veggies by the can from Walmart and they have this exact distribution! I have stopped buying them do to the lack of green.

I think they are just over representing the cheaper veggies.

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AngryK9

July 17, 2009 2:26 AM

It's amusing what curiosity will drive a person to do. =P

2 replies

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Yoko Broke Up The Beatles

July 17, 2009 6:32 AM

@AngryK9:

Louis has too much time on his hands, I think.

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ChuckECheese

July 17, 2009 12:36 PM

@Yoko Broke Up The Beatles: I agree. And this article needs a \"virgin\" tag.

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morlo

July 17, 2009 3:24 AM

Sad, but not surprising that quantities of each vegetable are determined by cost. Kind of false advertising though since there are probably at least 3 servings in the can and not enough lima beans and celery unless you cut them. I really wonder who buys this stuff after you see you're getting a can of carrots and potatoes, 2 vegetables that should never be canned anyway.

1 replies

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radiochief

July 17, 2009 2:08 PM

@morlo: Canned vegetable compositions are not determined by price.

They are determined by USDA/FDA regulations based on what variety is in the can.

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parad0x360

July 17, 2009 3:29 AM

When dealer with fruits of vegetables of any kind Ive always found the name brand to be superior to store brands. We used to buy store brand broccoli and it was always like 80% stalks. My Girlfriend insisted on it because it was cheaper. I finally convinced her it was worth the extra $1. Same goes for Corn. Hard to mess up corn you say? Well for some reason the store brand was always...crunchy. Not Mmmm good corn crunchy, hard crunchy.

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nato0519

July 17, 2009 12:19 PM

Am i the only one who wouldn't be mad that they only put 2 lima beans in there lol

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guymandude

July 17, 2009 1:47 PM

I can't believe you guys are wasting bandwidth on this. OMG! and I'm contributing to it!!
I forget who (above) said it. It's probably filler as limas are expensive and carrots & potatos are cheap. I like carrots and potatos though. Mmmmmm..... potatos. ;)

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JessicaJessica

July 17, 2009 2:23 PM

And the best part is that the can is probably lined with Bisphenol A!!!!!

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painfullyblunt

July 18, 2009 1:42 AM

i would totally do something like this. mostly out of boredom. or blatant curiosity.

wonder if the OP takes the same meds I do.

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PinkBox

July 18, 2009 4:36 PM

I buy cans of mixed veggies every now and then, and I've never had that happen. Pretty evenly mixed, usually.

Sure, a lot of generics are the same as the more well known brands - but there are other brands that are very obviously more cheaply produced than others.

I suggest trying a new brand.