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I shop a few times a year at a salvage grocery run by the Amish in a nearby city. Every item is "expired," as most people put it, or rather past i's "best by" or "sell by" date. So far, I have lived to tell the tale! Most "expirations dates" are for the manufacturer's benefit and basically meaningless to the consumer.
A friend once gave me a bunch of canned goods she'd uncovered while moving, some of which were a year or more out of date. Saved me about a month's worth of food expenditures, and I'm still alive and kicking!
I really wish grocers would designate one area for the food they're about to dispose of, for whatever reason (out of date, bruised fruit and veggies, stale bakery items) at reduced prices and let the consumer take his OWN chances.
It kills me to think of all the food waste that occurs on a daily basis in our society; not only in restaurants and cafeterias (don't get me started on people who "don't do leftovers" and just throw it out), but also stores -- especially in these times. I've watched those "cheapskate" shows on cable TV about dumpster diving and, in some instances where the food is basically guaranteed to be fresh and safe, it's tempting!
That waste always bugged me back in the days when I was a bartender at a country club and later when I worked in the food and beverage department of a casino. The amount of food tossed from weddings, bar mitzvah's, buffets, was staggering. And right outside the casino doors homeless people living under the boardwalk, and a homeless shelter a few blocks away.
I once asked a girl behind the bakery counter at a supermarket if she had tried a pastry I was looking at, and she said "they don't let us eat anything". I said "Not even the stuff they throw out at the end of the day?" and she said not even that.
That waste always bugged me back in the days when I was a bartender at a country club and later when I worked in the food and beverage department of a casino. The amount of food tossed from weddings, bar mitzvah's, buffets, was staggering. And right outside the casino doors homeless people living under the boardwalk, and a homeless shelter a few blocks away.
I once asked a girl behind the bakery counter at a supermarket if she had tried a pastry I was looking at, and she said "they don't let us eat anything". I said "Not even the stuff they throw out at the end of the day?" and she said not even that.
I could never work in a restaurant; the waste would drive me insane.
And that's awful about the bakery! I would happily pay (less) for that.
I worked in a deli as a teenager, and I honestly can't remember WHAT we did with any prepared sandwiches, etc. that didn't sell on any given day. Waste wasn't on my radar.
I'm going to be getting a new HVAC system this spring. Looking back at my energy costs a year ago; electricity price is about the same but natural gas price for heating has increased about 80%. Definitely looking at getting a hybrid heat pump/gas system to bring my use of natural gas down.
If you have a single-family home you should look at geothermal.
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I once asked a girl behind the bakery counter at a supermarket if she had tried a pastry I was looking at, and she said "they don't let us eat anything". I said "Not even the stuff they throw out at the end of the day?" and she said not even that.
While working at Walmart, our boss got us in the back of the deli and said "You cannot take it home, but you can eat it back here"
We never got crazy, but a couple times we had to toss a couple pounds of chicken nuggets when the manager came by ...it's a shame how they have changed their policies of unsold rotisserie chicken at end of day
My local grocery chain frequently has "managers specials" in the meat department. They are usually a "sell today" date but are fine for freezing. I always look there and yesterday there were some really good deals altho it can be hit or miss. They had a beautiful thick NY strip steak for 50% off -- got it for $7.75 and it would feed two people. I threw it in the freezer. They also had lots of other packages -- some cubed round steak and beef stir fry and grass fed filet mignon. I didn't get any of that but it was all 50% off. I imagine those will get snapped up very quickly if this crazy inflation continues.
On a side note -- I have learned to avoid the "grass fed." It might be healthier but in my opinion it is ALWAYS tougher. I don't eat a ton of steak but when I do I want it to be tender.
I thought it was just me, but I bought some grass fed steaks and I actually threw what I had cooked away. Yes, so wasteful but inedible. Incredibly tough.
While working at Walmart, our boss got us in the back of the deli and said "You cannot take it home, but you can eat it back here"
We never got crazy, but a couple times we had to toss a couple pounds of chicken nuggets when the manager came by ...it's a shame how they have changed their policies of unsold rotisserie chicken at end of day
Honestly I think has it has more to do with health/liability policies and issues.
We've over regulated ourselves in some areas.
Those of us willing to take our chances with "old" food should be allowed access to it. Maybe we could sign a waiver absolving the provider of responsibility or something...
That's funny - any food not fresh - the mere thought of food slightly old or ready to expire - makes me retch or almost puke my guts out.
Reading a post at beginning of this thread with poster happy about taking expiring food home from a coffee shop job as a perk and then freezing it at home makes me retch!
Those of us willing to take our chances with "old" food should be allowed access to it. Maybe we could sign a waiver absolving the provider of responsibility or something...
So, you want to add more costs to the store so you can save money on old food.
So, you want to add more costs to the store so you can save money on old food.
The "sell by" date doesn't make it old. Just that the store cannot sell it anymore.
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