Whole Foods says $6 asparagus water at California store was a mistake

[Liberal_in_LA]

On Tuesday a shopper snapped a photo of the curious beverage, posting it on Instagram along with the caption, "Somewhere in L.A., Whole Foods executives are laughing at all of us."
And then the jokes began to fly on Twitter...

The food site Eater reached out to Whole Foods and learned the spear-filled water was a mistake. The grocery chain's spokesperson Liz Burkhart released a statement explaining what happened:

We appreciate you bringing this to our attention. We looked into this right away and found that this item was being carried in just one of our stores in California. It was meant to be water with the essence of vegetables and/or mushrooms to be used as broth (similar to a bone broth), which are typically made over a long period of time soaking in water. The product was made incorrectly and has since been removed from the one store where it was carried.


http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Whole-Foods-pulls-6-asparagus-water-from-store-6426841.php

[Scootaloo]

1. saw something similar at a store here

Bottles of "Probiotic tonic" with flavors like "sauerkraut" or "kimchee"

Basically? Someone had bottled juice from fermented cabbage and put a $5 label on each bottle.

I can't recall if it was gluten-free.

[PeoViejo]

28. I had some Kim Chee for Lunch

I tried to explain to my companion as to why my plate smelled so bad. She was horrified that I would eat it.

All it needed was a little Fish Sauce to balance the flavors.

[jberryhill]

2. "Made incorrectly"?

You mean to tell me that putting two spears of asparagus into 16 oz of water, and sealing that in a jar, is not the correct way to make a vegetable soup broth?

What possible recipe could they have imaginably done "incorrectly" to result in this product?

[Brother Buzz]

3. Five cents CRV is only applies to beverages

Consumers pay California Redemption Value (CRV) when they purchase beverages, not soup stock.

[pinboy3niner]

7. So I not only overpaid for incorrect asparagus water, I can't even redeem the bottle?

Not to mention that my asparagus soup came out awful!

[Brother Buzz]

10. I've got a recipe for stone soup that could jazz it up

[pinboy3niner]

12. It only works if you use genuine stone water from Whole Foods

[Liberal_in_LA]

15. lol. don't give whole foods ideas for new products

[Liberal_in_LA]

13. 3 spears

[Starry Messenger]

21. It's homeopathic soup.

[pinboy3niner]

23. Now, now, don't be gruel

[Aerows]

26. You need a lot of grit

to try and sell asparagus water!

[WillowTree]

4. It *was* a mistake. They meant the price to be $15.99.

[msanthrope]

5. Employee prank that corporate doesn't want to admit to? nt

[Cal Carpenter]

29. My first thought was 'subversive disgruntled employee'

[Le Taz Hot]

6. Well, #1, bullshit.

They just got caught.

#2 and as a home cook who makes her own broth (actually, the process to which she is referring is more appropriately called "stock&quot I couldn't help but say "Huh?" to this: "which are typically made over a long period of time soaking in water." Uh, no darlin' that will kill someone. You have to actually, you know, apply heat. Oh, and a nice mir poix. And some peppercorns.

[Javaman]

9. +1 nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

14. yep,they got caught

[jberryhill]

18. And lied

But, apparently, they believe they will be insulated by the apparent and appalling ignorance of their customers about how food is prepared.

[hobbit709]

8. Like a Republican mistake, the only "mistake" was they thought they'd get away with it.

[HuckleB]

11. Why am I reminded of this? -- "The Lies that Whole Foods Tells"

http://www.realclearscience.com/blog/2014/06/the_lies_that_whole_foods_tells_108701.html

[Nuclear Unicorn]

16. I'd still wager --

Some people paid the $6 and they will fight doggedly to defend the "health benefits" rather than admit they were had.

[Cal Carpenter]

30. Well. it's detoxycleansifying

and don't even get me started on the memory in that water!

[KamaAina]

17. One store? So why is it labeled "CA CRV/HI 5?"?

There are three Whole Paychecks in Hawai'i, at tony Kahala Mall in east Honolulu, in Kailua where Obama vacations, and on Maui.

[KamaAina]

19. "Somewhere in L.A., Whole Foods executives are laughing at all of us."

I thought Whole Paycheck's executives were in Austin.

[Rex]

20. So a fairly random inspection of one of their products and it is found to be a 'mistake' and now

I am supposed to feel like their other million products are NOT a mistake? Stupid, they should have never addressed the issue and just moved on...their PR people are not very bright imo.

[snooper2]

22. I can make out most of the Ingredients, two to be exact, the rest is a warning LOL

Something about dangerous for children and the elderly

Whole foods, making millions every day off suckers

[Liberal_in_LA]

24. mine bottles water with cut up kiwis, lemons and other fruit. sells for $3

[NightWatcher]

25. All it needed was a sticker that read "Gluten Free" and they'd be selling out of it

Brewed and bottled at A Sucker's Born Every Minute plant in Derp Falls, Idaho

[PoliticAverse]

27. So it sounds like the "mistake" was that they left the asparagus stalks in it. n/t