Hot & Savory - Excessive Packaging

I’ll keep it short - I wanted to see if anyone else has this problem. I understand why they are transitioning away from the older Hot & Savory options. However, in doing so they are creating a huge problem from me.

I have gone with Huel over many of the other meal prep services because I can get a weeks worth of lunches out of them in a single bag, reducing the amount of waste in packaging. I’m really bummed about this transition; I really hate having to throw away packages with every meal. Some of it is recyclable, however my state has godawful environmental policies that doesn’t make recycling much of an option.

I’ve enjoyed their meals thus far, it’s great to have a complete nutrition option that’s easy to make and doesn’t taste like cardboard. I’d be sad to leave it behind, but I might have to look for alternatives if my only option will create waste with every individual meal.

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For me, I’m disappointed in the discontinuation of the Mac and Cheeze flavor, but you make a great point about the packaging. The reasoning to ensure the portions come out with consistent flavor is great, but the extra packaging just feels so wasteful. If there is some sort of better biodegradable or recyclable one, I’d be more on board, but this and the Mac and Cheeze discontinuation are a disappointment.

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I was surprised at the switch to sachets too, especially since we already had the cups. The big bags were nice for when we wanted to make dinners for two, or we’d make the whole bag at once and refrigerate it for easy reheating later.

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Same. I won’t even buy them anymore for this reason. Granted, they discontinued the only good flavors (my son and I are still mad about the Mac & cheese being gone), but why would I spend that much for less meals in single packets? There’s no way to adjust it (more or less) to fulfill any special diet needs. Defeats the purpose of Huel meals entirely.

Can we start a campaign to return mac n cheese?

EU user here & it was my favourite…

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US user here. I second this! Also would love it if alfredo came back. We have pasta B coming back, so anything is possible!

I’ll pass along yours and @toshdellapenna’s feedback regarding the Mac & Cheeze delisting! Unfortunately, cheesy/creamy flavors were not performing very well, such that continuing to produce them in the US is unsustainable at the moment. You can read more here.

A box of Meal Packs costs the same as a multi-serve pouch did ($27.65 per pouch, $3.95 per meal) and both have 7 400-calorie servings. The amount of product and cost have not changed, only the format.

We understand that the previous pouch format allowed for more flexible portion sizes and compact storage. However, one of the main challenges customers faced with the large pouches was consistency. In the multi-serve pouches, larger pieces of pasta and smaller powder particles naturally separate, which can result in portions that are either heavy on pasta or heavy on sauce. No matter how thoroughly the pouch is mixed, this separation can cause nutritional inaccuracies and an inconsistent taste and texture experience. The single-serving sachets allow you to get the perfect serving each time.

We understand there are trade-offs here, but we hope you can see how this change improves the overall product experience. If you prefer a larger portion, you can always tear open two meal packs instead of one. Alternatively, you can decant any extra Hot & Savory into an airtight container with a light barrier (like opaque plastic) and store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

While the amount of packaging has increased with the transition to Meal Packs, and this packaging (as with the multi-serve pouch) is not recyclable, the packaging is lightweight and accounts for less than 3% of the product’s carbon footprint. By prioritizing a long shelf life and reducing food waste, we’re minimizing our overall environmental impact.

The purpose of Huel is to provide a convenient, nutritionally complete meal, which the Meal Packs do!

All that said, if you live in the US and would like to purchase some of the remaining multi-serve pouches, select flavors are still available on our Outlet page here (while supplies last). They are currently on sale at $22 per pouch.

I’ll pass along the feedback that the Mac & Cheeze will be missed in the EU! Just a heads-up that you’re on the US forum, but you can find the global Huel forum here! https://discuss.huel.com/