Bad News: Trader Joe's Vegan Nacho Dip has been discontinued by the manufacturer

Why do you have such long nails? Are you a girl?

R1 I found the photo online. Please stay on topic -- they discontinued this delicious item.

Sorry to hear that, OP. I just recently began shopping again at TJ's over the past month or so after about a 2 year period and found that they had eliminated a few of my favorites (at least at this store): the Cinnamon Swirl bread (WITHOUT raisins, and not the Cinnamon Sugar bread they now have); their beet chips, which I surprisingly liked even though I really dislike red beets (I like golden beets though); and Masala Simmer Sauce.

That's just the nature of TJ beast I've learned over the years. Don't get too fond of things, especially if they're popular because they're bound to become discontinued.

I hate when that happens.

Why is it still available online then?

[quote]I used that stuff for everything.

Lube?

Face Cream?

Floor Wax?

R5 They haven't removed it yet. I believe the employee because if my store were simply out of stock, the display label would still be on the shelf (turned upside down, with an ETA) but there was no display label. R6 Nachos, broccoli w/cheese, mac & cheese, tater tots w/cheese, broccoli cheddar soup--and I wasn't done experimenting. But I guess now I am.

Doesn't Trader Joe's do this kind of thing a lot?

I can think of about 10 things that I liked and bought regularly over the years that then just disappeared.

I don't even ask anyone in the store about it any more.

The roasted gorgonzola crisps met the same fate within the last year or two.

Whenever I find a product I like at Trader Joes, they immediately cancel it.

Sorry you've lost one of your favorites OP, but this happens all the time at TJs. If you're a regular shopper at TJs, you should be used to this.

You could ask them for info about the manufacturer and then contact that manufacturer about where else it is sold and/or buying it in bulk directly from the manufacturer.

I've lost the will to live.

I'm still grieving their original gingerbread boxed mix -- the one they carry now is a pale imitation. But they don't care how we feel, callous bastards.

Vegan Nacho Dip Dairy Free: what the hell is in that dip?

R13 It was cashew-based w/some flavoring. I could make it myself if I had a blender.

this one has good reviews, very quick to make. you can freeze excess for a month or more.

TJ ingredients: WATER, ORGANIC CASHEWS, ORGANIC COCONUT OIL, ORGANIC ONIONS, ORGANIC TAPIOCA STARCH, SEA SALT, ORGANIC SUNFLOWER OIL, ORGANIC SUNFLOWER LECITHIN, ORGANIC FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICE (FOR COLOR), NATURAL FLAVOR, ORGANIC GARLIC POWDER, ORGANIC NATURAL FLAVOR, LACTIC ACID.

Here's the minimalist baker recipe ingredients: soaked cashews, garlic, nutritional yeast, cumin, chili powder, harissa, salt,

TJ's adds onions for flavor and tapioca starch and lecithin as thickener and coconut oil and sunflower oil for creaminess. I would try the minimalist baker recipe and see if you need the other ingredients to play with the texture. You may want to add a touch of onion power.

the recipe i linked at r15 doesn't call for soaked cashews, FYI.

True, it adds hot water to the cashews to help break them down. Some recipes soak the cashews instead.

TJ's Products are cancelled because of contracts- locking the myriad of logistics of ingredients, manufacturing, and freight into a window of time and amount. Then figuring out how long it can sit on a shelf in a warehouse without spoiling or how to distribute it safely to all their stores.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the love of a product, and more to do with modern processing, cutting costs, and finding efficiency throughout all the processes. It's sort of an admirable mission one can appreciate, yet isn't replicated easily...

A few months, perhaps the tail end or empty time slots of other manufacturing lines, or to secure a larger order of raw materials at a lower price for the manufacturer. Maybe they also utilize freight cars that would've sat empty, or run an expensive piece of machinery late at night to save electricity costs.

What happens is one or two ingredients go awry, a union steps in and suddenly labor becomes more expensive, or some earthly disruption gets in the way. I have to say once I moved out of NYC I didn't shop at TJs for several years and was disappointed to see what they became.

[quote]TJ ingredients: WATER, ORGANIC CASHEWS, ORGANIC COCONUT OIL, ORGANIC ONIONS, ORGANIC TAPIOCA STARCH, SEA SALT, ORGANIC SUNFLOWER OIL, ORGANIC SUNFLOWER LECITHIN, ORGANIC FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICE (FOR COLOR), NATURAL FLAVOR, ORGANIC GARLIC POWDER, ORGANIC NATURAL FLAVOR, LACTIC ACID.

Where’s the cheese? I hate all of this fake Franken-food. Give me the real thing.

Thoughts and prayers for the OP during this very difficult time.

r20 it's VEGAN. As in no real cheese. The substitute is cashews and nutritional yeast. Which I have to say is actually pretty tasty and a damn good sub for someone avoiding dairy and/or who is vegan. If you read the recipe linked at r15, it's all "real" food. The other stuff that TJ's adds in is stuff to make it shelf stable, improve texture, whatever. Here are the ingredients for the make-it-at-home recipe:

3/4 – 1 cup hot water

1 cup raw cashews

1 clove garlic, chopped

2 Tbsp nutritional yeast

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp salt, plus more to taste

1 Tbsp harissa (or sub hot salsa, hot sauce, Ro-Tel, or 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce // plus more for garnish)

[quote]I have to say once I moved out of NYC I didn't shop at TJs for several years and was disappointed to see what they became.

I used to be shop in Trader Joes several times a week. But I also took a break for TJs for several years after a move. The chain had definitely gone downhill some. Some of my very favorite products they no longer carry. Chain seems now more focused on rotating new and exotic products in for three month windows. Then they move in a whole bunch of other new products for another three month window.

Is that you in the pic, OP?

R24 this was answered in r2. Pay attention.

Ah, thanks kween^.

You'll just have to wash your balls with something else, OP.

I don’t eat yeast. Yuck! 🤢 Disgusting! 🤮

They make real cheese! You can’t eat it if you aren’t triggered! 🤡

I love nutritional yeast. it's got a great cheesy flavor and 2 tsp gives you 313% of your daily value of B12 which is excellent for your hair, skin, nails, energy, etc. Getting needed vitamins and minerals through food is far more beneficial than just popping a multi vite, the vit/mineral is more bio-available for your body.

Whatever, i think nutritional yeast is pretty delicious and as I definitely need help with my hair/skin/nails/energy, I'm happy to add it whenever I can to food.

You do what you want.

[quote] I love nutritional yeast. it's got a great cheesy flavor

Yeah, why does yeast always have that cheesy smell? Two days of not showering and there’s enough cheese in my boyfriend’s foreskin to make a grilled cheese.

Oh, man, this stinks! I had some of this last night.

Well, actually mine was rocks instead of cashews. And it was made with river water, but still. I feel your pain, OP.

Nutritional yeast adds a nice umami flavor. I add it to dressings a lot. And a sprinkle in mashed potatoes and on hot buttered popcorn. When I’m roasting potatoes or Brussels sprouts, too.

r16 Yep. The nutritional yeast is the secret ingredient to give it that "cheesy" taste. I use it as a parmesan replacement. I'm partial to Bragg's brand, personally. I tried some Trader Joe's vegan cream cheese and it left a horrible aftertaste. I've been turned off all of their vegan cheese products ever since.

Just eat some cashews. Ultra processed food is not your friend.

[quote]Well, actually mine was rocks instead of cashews. And it was made with river water, but still. I feel your pain, OP.

My goodness Darfur Orphan. You're living in luxury. Rocks and water!

Few Trader Joe products continue passed the 3 year mark regardless of popularity.

[quote] Just eat some cashews. Ultra processed food is not your friend.

Not that I disagree, but throwing raw cashews and hot water in a blender with some spices doesn’t seem like “ultra-processed” food. Making it at home from whole raw ingredients seems a lot healthier than buying premade food at Trader Joe’s, IMO.

I’m gonna try the homemade version later today!

I know spicy honey is on trend right now, but their version is so good. My sister said to drizzle it on pizza. Looking forward to trying that on Super Bowl Sunday.

OP, there is a similar version available at Target. I think it’s their own brand? They also have a vegan spicy Queso.

WHO are these people that find DL and keep posting about chemical junk food all the time and triggering threads that are dozens or hundreds of replies ling? There’s no way this is gay men. It’s got to be women, right?

Why are you people here? Go alway and discuss your eating sickness with other women. Why must you ingest ever corner of the web and society?

r41 You type incel.

I really wanted to like nutritional yeast. I tried it, two or three separate times. I just could not get used to it. It even looks unappetizing when it gets wet.

Another option is to make your own hummus and put the flavors that you like in it

You could actually just use any bean and make a dip.

Here's Nigella Lawson's red kidney bean dip. Vegan.

r44 I've always made my own hummus because BITD it wasn't available in supermarkets. The stuff you can buy these days is very salty IMO, another reason I'm glad I make it myself.

I used to use all chickpeas, but now I include white cannellini beans because it helps provide a smoother texture( you can really use any beans you prefer). 3 15oz. cans of chickpeas to 1 of the white beans is a good ratio. I make a lot at once because it keeps well, and since I've dirtied half the kitchen to make it, may as well have a vatful of the stuff. 😉

You can make a good hummus very simply with just chickpeas, lemon juice, garlic, cumin and olive oil. I go the other route and load it up with lemon rind, Worcestershire and Tabasco sauces, black and white pepper and lots of herbs and spices(savory leaves, cumin, curry powder, paprika, chili powder et al. I don't go crazy with these, but I do enjoy the various flavors that make my version of hummus so tasty.) I also wind up having to thin out the hummus with water, chickpeas, even though they are well-cooked, are very dry and need extra moisture to break down smoothly.

[quote] I know spicy honey is on trend right now, but their version is so good. My sister said to drizzle it on pizza. Looking forward to trying that on Super Bowl Sunday.

Yuck! I tried this and it was one of the worst things at Trader Joe’s. First, it’s not even real honey. It’s artificial honey “sauce”. Tasted so fake and horrible and made my throat itch. Get the real thing like Mike’s Hot Honey.

I split a grub with my sister today.

once you like something, then they discontinue it. What kind of business model is this?

R49, TJ’s entire business model is consumers “exploring new foods” and runs on the concept of products disappearing- so they have the space to introduce new ones. The truth is there’s an efficiency to keeping shelves, warehouses, supply and distribution tightly capped rather than keep expanding offerings into an unwieldy mess, or rely on too many unpredictable variables outside of their control. Supermarkets have razor thin profit margins.

Also, I believe it has to do with competition or other brands, as it’s easier for them to negotiate with big manufactures if they agree to certain time and ingredient or brand extension restrictions, especially a brand that competes directly with a TJ brand on the very same shelf.

The idea is these contracts have a beginning and an end, and hopefully cut off while still somewhat profitable, rather than dying on the vine or winding up in a Dollar Store aisle. It’s the one thing die hard TJ fans complain about,

But they still keep coming back for.

Freudian slip, r41?

R50 I used to go to TJs every couple of weeks and had a handful of favorite products. About 3-4 years ago they no longer carried a single one, but they did not replace them with other comparable products as alternatives. They used to have a fair share of either organic or non-GMO products, but today you are hard pressed to find anything organic. It's a lot of "unique" snack food. I've been perhaps twice in the last year and but next to nothing. Perhaps I'm an outlier on this but I can get snacky food anywhere today, I don't need to go to Trade Joes for that.

Forgot something in my list of hummus ingredients(at #46)-TAHINI. How could I have left that out? It adds flavor, texture and helps bind everything together. For years I've purchased JOYVA™ brand, I liked its very firm texture(as opposed to all other brands I had tried, which were pourable), it was like slicing a very aged cheddar cheese. Also, it is made from roasted sesame seeds which provides additional flavor.

The last can I bought was very soupy though, it didn't smell 'off' so I used it and nothing untoward happened. I think I'll contact the company and see what the deal is.