Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
This Online Group Collects Food Scams That Would Leave Anyone Feeling Betrayed And Here’s 45 Of The Worst Ones
You don’t have to agree with me, but in my humble opinion, nothing hurts as much as a food scam.
Picture a single lonely raisin in a puffy cinnamon and raisin bagel, or a dash of mayo gently glued to the surface of a taco when you ask for extra sour cream on the side, or think of how many lies you had to suck in with all that deceptive packaging sold on the shelves like it was no big deal... If that’s not cruel, I don’t know what is.
Food scams are so widespread, people don’t really talk about ‘em. Have we all become immune to them? Luckily, there’s one corner of reddit known as r/FoodScam that shares all fraudulent incidents of people getting not what they ordered, not what they paid for, and strictly not what they wanted. Let’s see a selection of the nastiest food scams below.
This post may include affiliate links.
RELATED:
#2
This Half Styrofoam Cake
#3
Life Is Like A Box Of Chocolates: A Big Fat Lie
Previously, we talked to Portugal-based graphic designer Laura Vanagaite, who explained how and why our mind gets so easily tricked by deceptive packaging. “Once we see unique photos of food and drinks, our mind creates the impression that the volume of the contents is greater than it actually is.” This anticipation is destroyed as soon as you open the package. “And once we find out that the reality is different, we feel disappointment.”
When asked why there is still so much deceptive packaging sold in the shopping aisles, Laura said that this is a clever marketing technique. “Brands know that beautiful imagery sells and that catchy photos with great products create the illusion which will help to sell it fast.”
#4
Basically Just Paid For The Fancy Tin
#5
Sticker Hides The Fact That The Jar Is Half Full, Makes You Think The Content Is Double In Size
Obi Wang Kenobi 4 years ago
At least this time the person caught the scam before it went to far :)
#6
Ah Come On
troufaki13 4 years ago
To be honest I don't know if I would want so much poppy seed jam in my brioche :/
Various studies have shown that consumers tend not to notice package downsizing at the time of purchase because most of us do not read the content information on packaging, but instead use visual estimations of package volume and content. Moreover, many of us are impulsive buyers and if the product and its design looks good, our brain tells us it’s gonna taste good, so we make a decision without too much questioning.
#7
This "Box" Of Beef Jerky
#8
Wife Asked For Extra Sour Cream On The Side
#9
As If We Didn't Already Have Enough Packaging On Chips
#10
Just Why?
#11
I Was Told My 2020reo Ice Cream Belonged Here
Brian Bennett 4 years ago
I worked for Breyers this is not a mistake this is a habit for them. Typical of big business!
#12
It Says Delicate Roses On The Packaging, I Don't Think So
#13
This Popcorn Packaging
#14
I Ordered A Side Of Bacon ($6 On The Menu)
#15
Cinnamon And Singular Raisin Bagel
Dorothy Parker 4 years ago
It say Cinnamon Raisin bagel. What do they expect? It was accurate.
#16
The Burrito Looked Huge When Covered
#17
Tim Horton’s “Breakfast Wrap”
#18
To Be Fair, I Monched A Few Chips In The Corner Before The Pic
#19
When They Said "Chocolate Chip Muffin", I Didn't Take Them Literally... But Should Have
#20
Hello? Canolli Police? I'd Like To Report A Crime
#21
My Girlfriend Got Me Conversation Hearts For Valentine’s Day. They Have No Words!
#22
Ten Dollar Avocado Nigiri At Sushi Restaurant
#23
Tempting On The Packaging
#24
Scam Level 100
#25
Paleta Postizo
#26
I Paid £5 For This Tomato Salad In London
#27
This Is How Much Root Beer They Gave Me
Phil DeBlanc 4 years ago
Always ask for a soft drink with no ice. It is refrigerated so it will come cold.
#28
I Am Tired Of All The Lies
#29
A Nice Blueberry Muffin... Oh Wait
#30
Less Than Jumbo Shrimp
#31
Umm
#32
These Chocolates, Which Have Always Been Five In A Pack, Are Now Four With A Paper Piece Inside The Box To Make It Look Like There's Five
#33
Steam-Fresh Broccoli
#34
My "Blueberry Granola" Came With One F***ing Blueberry. Now Ur Thinking, Well It Says "Blueberry" Which Is Singular, The Ingredients Say "Blueberries" Which Implies That There Is More Than One Blueberry In The Bag. I've Been Robbed
Mazer 4 years ago
Agreed. I would send the package back to the company and tell them they either need to change their label to reflect that they are only giving people one blueberry where they need to add one more blueberry to the bag to be legally correct!!! I don’t get how these companies stay in business shirking the public like this.
#35
12 Oz Can Of Tomato Paste Opened Fresh With A Hollow Middle
Mihai Mara 4 years ago
maybe a factory worker used it for something else before putting it back on the line :D
#36
Nice Burger With Extra Tomato
#37
The Amount Of Barbecue Sauce On My Rodeo Cheeseburger From Burger King
#38
Watch Out For That Tidal Wave Of Chocolate
#39
I Want The Rest Of My Jolly Ranchers. (Package Was Inside The Mug)
#40
I Didn't Know That You Have To Buy The Chocolate Separately
Kathryn Baylis 4 years ago (edited)
Check the expiration date on the package. This one looks like it could be stale—-like the chocolate dried up and shrank. In fact, it looks kind of like it’s turning white, which means it’s so old the butter fat has separated out.
#41
Thanks For The 2 Sprinkles, Dunkin
ThoughtsAreNotFacts 4 years ago
Love donuts, but that icing looks like microwaved pepto bismol! More sprinkles wouldn't have made it more appealing
#42
My Uncle Ordered A Cake
Troux 4 years ago
The hair looks pretty good! This isn't a scam, it just looks like someone wasn't up to the order. Usually you can look at samples of their work to avoid things like this.
ivan bolitekurac 4 years ago
The face looks like a car accident...I doubt that the sample looks like this
Load More Replies...
Jo Choto 4 years ago
The big box stores just appoint some poor schmuck in the bakery to do decorations. They are given a template to work on with instructions. They are not trained, they are not artists. And this is the result.
Casey B 4 years ago
I resent the hell out of that comment. I worked in one of those stores that you look down your nose at, and I never would have presented a cake like that to one of my customers. I did floating 7-tiered wedding cakes with a champagne fountain and not once did I ever have a customer complain. And guess who trained me.... I did!...The deli manager asked me if I wanted to try and do cakes one day and I said yes, and I did it for twelve years, learning as I went. Maybe try not to be so judgemental.
Load More Replies...
ThoughtsAreNotFacts 4 years ago
Cake fails are the best! But if that came from a baker and not a family member trying their best, I'd be disappointed
Hazel Rhea 4 years ago
This makes me grateful cake decorating is not my job, I'm confident I can't do better than this and the stress would make me smash cakes in my own face.
#43
They’re Not Even Connected
#44
10 Dollar Slice Of Cheesecake!!! The Container Could Have Fit An Entire Second Slice Easily
#45
This Fish Which Only Shows The Outside While The Inside Is Filled With Onion
Sarcastic Cow 4 years ago
This is a great polish fraud perpetrated on the nation of Slovakia! :D
#46
I Paid $6.40 ($8.13 After Tax And Tip) For This Much Queso
#47
Dear God, What Was I Thinking
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Rose the Cook 4 years ago
These are all examples of deceptive packaging that has become far to common. Although most appear European I have experienced this just about everywhere.
Vicky Z 4 years ago
I was just going to ask if this is usual in America cause most of them looked American to me... sure i saw some European but didn't recognised most of the brands that we have in Europe
Load More Replies...
Jo Choto 4 years ago
There's a lot of comments criticizing servers for restaurant portions. In many cases, they are instructed by the bosses to give a set amount using a measured serving implement, to maximize profit. It's not their fault. Blame the corporate moguls, not the poor kids at the bottom of the heap.
Ivana 4 years ago
Best life skill you can ever learn is how to cook. I maybe buy packaged food or go out to eat a handful of times a year because honestly my cooking is amazing and I can make it better and cheaper at home. Also saves me from the stress of feeling ripped off a lot. Can't stand fast food, feels like I just wadded up my money, ripped it to shreds, and spit on it. Being disappointed with food or feeling ripped off was the biggest motivator in me learning how to cook really well. Went to Panera Bread and got the onion soup, it was croutons with shredded cheese that had not been melted. I was so enraged I immediately went to the store, got the ingredients I needed, and learned how to make french onion soup myself. Best life advice I can give anyone is learn how to cook because all the prepackaged food is an absolute waste of money. Also, it doesn't save time. Takes me longer to go to McDs than it does to cook a burger at home.
Dorothy Cloud 4 years ago
Co. doesn't care. Best thing is "do not buy" from them again & tell everyone you know not to buy from them!
Load More Replies...
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Another reason to avoid processed/prepackaged food. Like I needed one, LOL. Nope. Thanks, I'll take the hassle of making it all from scratch.
Russell Ellwardt 4 years ago
Dear BP: What sense does it make to shorten a series of 47 images to 45 "based on user votes"? This is just too silly.
marianne eliza 4 years ago
Always check the weight or fluid ounces of any product. My biggest beef is those frozen entrees and dinners with that ridiculous "Serving Suggestion" picture on the box. There is no way on earth any person could use what is inside to make what is on the package.
Suzanne Haigh 4 years ago
Most of these would have been illegal in the UK. If you do not protest, more fool you
Cohen Jennings 4 years ago
Kind of a similar thing happened to my mom, but was completely accidental. I don't have a pic bc it was years ago, but she once ordered a Big Mac and got a burger bun with tortilla strips on it
Bacony Cakes 4 years ago
Can BP please stop cutting lists down? It's only two f*cking posts, just show the whole thing in one go.
Mazer 4 years ago
This is just sad sad sad and I would be spending a lot of time on yelp or Facebook on these companies pages giving them horrible reviews I would be sending out letters with photographs letting them know that this is absolutely unacceptable behavior. And I would follow up with a post script by letting them know I do not want a coupon for your product it’s crap to start with I don’t need a coupon for more crap
Rose the Cook 4 years ago
These are all examples of deceptive packaging that has become far to common. Although most appear European I have experienced this just about everywhere.
Vicky Z 4 years ago
I was just going to ask if this is usual in America cause most of them looked American to me... sure i saw some European but didn't recognised most of the brands that we have in Europe
Load More Replies... Jo Choto 4 years ago
There's a lot of comments criticizing servers for restaurant portions. In many cases, they are instructed by the bosses to give a set amount using a measured serving implement, to maximize profit. It's not their fault. Blame the corporate moguls, not the poor kids at the bottom of the heap.
Ivana 4 years ago
Best life skill you can ever learn is how to cook. I maybe buy packaged food or go out to eat a handful of times a year because honestly my cooking is amazing and I can make it better and cheaper at home. Also saves me from the stress of feeling ripped off a lot. Can't stand fast food, feels like I just wadded up my money, ripped it to shreds, and spit on it. Being disappointed with food or feeling ripped off was the biggest motivator in me learning how to cook really well. Went to Panera Bread and got the onion soup, it was croutons with shredded cheese that had not been melted. I was so enraged I immediately went to the store, got the ingredients I needed, and learned how to make french onion soup myself. Best life advice I can give anyone is learn how to cook because all the prepackaged food is an absolute waste of money. Also, it doesn't save time. Takes me longer to go to McDs than it does to cook a burger at home.
Dorothy Cloud 4 years ago
Co. doesn't care. Best thing is "do not buy" from them again & tell everyone you know not to buy from them!
Load More Replies... Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Another reason to avoid processed/prepackaged food. Like I needed one, LOL. Nope. Thanks, I'll take the hassle of making it all from scratch.
Russell Ellwardt 4 years ago
Dear BP: What sense does it make to shorten a series of 47 images to 45 "based on user votes"? This is just too silly.
marianne eliza 4 years ago
Always check the weight or fluid ounces of any product. My biggest beef is those frozen entrees and dinners with that ridiculous "Serving Suggestion" picture on the box. There is no way on earth any person could use what is inside to make what is on the package.
Suzanne Haigh 4 years ago
Most of these would have been illegal in the UK. If you do not protest, more fool you
Cohen Jennings 4 years ago
Kind of a similar thing happened to my mom, but was completely accidental. I don't have a pic bc it was years ago, but she once ordered a Big Mac and got a burger bun with tortilla strips on it
Bacony Cakes 4 years ago
Can BP please stop cutting lists down? It's only two f*cking posts, just show the whole thing in one go.
Mazer 4 years ago
This is just sad sad sad and I would be spending a lot of time on yelp or Facebook on these companies pages giving them horrible reviews I would be sending out letters with photographs letting them know that this is absolutely unacceptable behavior. And I would follow up with a post script by letting them know I do not want a coupon for your product it’s crap to start with I don’t need a coupon for more crap
Related on Bored Panda
