What you see is not always what you get. Especially when it comes to the culinary world. From packaging to cookbooks and even restaurant menus, the portrayal of food often sets high expectations that reality struggles to meet.
So we at Bored Panda put together a list of pictures people shared after they realized the gap between what they wanted and what they got. Looks like there was plenty of room for dessert!
#1 Ah Come On
Image credits: boboddy111
#2 Trying Food Hacks
Image credits: jeremmmyy
It's not just some obscure brands who are receiving criticism over deceptive advertising. At the end of 2023, consumers sued Starbucks because, in their opinion, Mango Dragonfruit Starbucks Refreshers are missing mango, Strawberry Açaí Starbucks Refreshers lack açaí and Pineapple Passionfruit Starbucks Refreshers have no passion fruit.
In such cases, plaintiffs typically argue that companies are going beyond simple marketing hyperbole and misrepresenting their food and drinks — whether it's promising ingredients that aren't there or displaying promotion images that don't match the real-life items.
#3 Guess The Meatballs Just All Wanted A Window Seat
Image credits: FoxyFry
#4 This "Avocado" Oil
Image credits: Anger_Puss
#5 It's Blueberry Ice Cream. If You Are Allergic To Blueberries, You Can Eat It Without Worrying
Image credits: Lizyyyn
There has been a wide range of accusations in recent years: Barilla pasta isn't made in Italy, Burger King's Whoppers are smaller than they appear, and the "boneless wings" served at Buffalo Wild Wings aren't actually chicken wings.
Subway's "100% tuna" sandwiches either partially or completely lack tuna, Taco Bell skimps on the fillings in its Mexican Pizza, Crunchwrap Supreme, and the list goes on.
#6 Happy Heart Shaped Krispy Kreme
Image credits: footieamddim
#7 Recently Got My Wisdom Teeth Out And Wanted To Eat More Solid Food. Got This Today From Ubereats
Image credits: kaylafee
#8 I Feel Like Majority Of The Applebee’s Menu Is Expectationvsreality
Image credits: flyoverthemooon
#9 Where’s The Rice?
Image credits: FuckingTiredCat
"In general, companies can say great things about their product and make any kind of opinion claims they want to make about it. They can even say it's the best in the world," Louis Tompros, an intellectual property attorney at the law firm WilmerHale in Boston, told NPR.
#10 My Boyfriend Made These Cookies From R/Foodporn. He Gave Me Grief For "Not Being Able To Bake" (Which Isn't True) So I Let Him Do All The Work. This Is What I Found This Morning
Image credits: midnightmems
#11 Thanks For All Of The Stems, Lowes Foods!
Image credits: reddit.com
#12 When They Said "Chocolate Chip Muffin", I Didn't Take Them Literally... But Should Have
Image credits: trubbub
#13 It Looks Sickly ?
Image credits: uglypatty
"Opinion claims about a product are called puffery, and they're perfectly fine under false advertising law. What false advertising law does not allow is a false factual claim," Tompros explained.
#14 Tesco UK.... Shameful
Image credits: cucumberman_lettuce
#15 Chinese Takeaway Scam - Beyond Ridiculous
Image credits: darkandstormy316
#16 The Ultimate Betrayal
Image credits: emmyjdt
#17 Bacon Mac And Cheese
Image credits: heretolurkb1tch
While some companies have succeeded in getting cases against them tossed out of court, other legal food fights have pushed businesses to spend a lot of cash on settlements.
Last year, A&W Concentrate Co. agreed to pay up to $15 million to settle claims that its root beer and cream soda weren't "made with aged vanilla," as the labels suggested.
And back in 2014, Red Bull announced it would pay more than $13 million to settle a lawsuit brought by buyers who said the energy drink didn't — as the marketing materials promised — "give you wings."
#18 Air Sandwich
Image credits: rangersmetsjets
#19 Umm
Image credits: XD_Devils
#20 Never Have I Been More Disappointed
Image credits: reddit.com
#21 Some "Tacos" My Coworker Bought
Image credits: lutherstatic
Tompros, who is also a lecturer at Harvard Law School, said some law firms specialize in food and beverage false advertising cases and even recruit plaintiffs to be part of a possible class action.
When companies settle cases, payouts to an individual consumer may be relatiively small, but attorneys' fees can be substantial.
#22 Airplane Food > Airport Food
Image credits: brunopieroni
#23 No Cookies
Image credits: Gloomy_Evergreen
#24 This Is Why You Check Your Food Before You Leave The Restaurant
Image credits: iseeaseaanemone
#25 My Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Contained No Peanut Butter
Image credits: njtrafficsignshopper
"There's a great incentive for law firms to try to identify even small-value misstatements in advertising and then bring a class-action suit, because the attorneys' fees from that suit can make it worthwhile for the firms," Tompros added.
Though not every case may result in a monetary settlement, experts say the uptick in deceptive marketing cases may cause companies to be more cautious in their ads in the future. So it can very well mean that in the long run, the difference between what we expect from food products and what we actually receive will shrink!
#26 Grilled Salmon At The Mall Food Court
Image credits: SCSWitch
#27 Less Than Jumbo Shrimp
Image credits: RalphiesBoogers
#28 Went On A Gas Station Food Run And Came Back With These Bad Boys. Not Less Than 10 Minutes Later And I’m Hit With A Wall Of Disappointment
Image credits: reddit.com
#29 Ordered Steak Tacos From This Smokehouse Joint And The Second Pic Is What I Received
Image credits: Premarinated_Borger
#30 Arby's
Image credits: Skvora
#31 Arby's Food Stylist Knows Every Damn Trick In The Book
Image credits: rabbi-reefer
#32 I Was Told My 2020reo Ice Cream Belonged Here
Image credits: Krystaphonix
#33 My First Food Delivery Order In Hamburg…
Image credits: _holldoll_
#34 Oldie But Goodie. The Bear That Hangs Around All Day Smoking Weed, Who Eats All Your Food, And Pays No Rent
Image credits: beroemd
#35 What We Ordered vs. What We Received
Image credits: ThePhantomAli
#36 Paleta Postizo
Image credits: MerkyOne
#37 Panera French Onion Soup
Image credits: 16carlsemm
#38 Meal Kit For 2 Adults
Image credits: Ekim7878
#39 Didn't Realize We Bought A Bunch Of Plastic With Traces Of Food On It
Image credits: alexachan
#40 Very Dry And Sad Croissant ?
Image credits: niketyname
#41 Cincinnati's Famous Chili Spaghetti (X-Post R/Shittyfoodporn)
Image credits: RileyW92
#42 I Get That Fast Food Never Really Looks Like The Picture On The Menu, But This Is Insane. Ordered From Australian Vegan Fast Food Restaurant, Lord Of The Fries
Image credits: reddit.com
#43 I Guess I’m Happy They Don’t Use Artificial Food Coloring?
Image credits: perksofbeingsteph
#44 Patty Melts Of Chivuo’s In Barcelona
Image credits: pururia
#45 Scam Level 10
Image credits: Sempaii_rj
#46 Dear God, What Was I Thinking
Image credits: FraternityMan
#47 Camping Food Reality ?
Image credits: haakonhalz
#48 I Was Looking Forward To Having These The Whole Day…
Image credits: cow25585
#49 Rainbow Fail
Image credits: Captain_Margaret_91
#50 Was Told This Is More Suited For Here
Image credits: Nick-The-Cyber_Dick
