The quality of packaged foods - cereal, pasta mixes, etc. - just sucks anymore

[Flaxbee]

Bought some "Life" cereal and some sort of oaty-crunchy flakes and they both taste like sawdust. Products are either totally bland, or have too much salt and sugar and stuff added.

Crackers, other than Wasa: crap.

Packaged cookies, mostly crap.

"Instant" oatmeals, etc., are full of preservatives and chemicals.

All of those pre-mixed "dinners", either boxed or frozen: crap, and loaded with sodium.

Anyone see that King of the Hill episode where they start buying from a co-op? And Peggy says "If this is food, what have we been eating?"

What the hell are grocery stores selling these days?

I realize that it's always better to "shop the perimeter" but even that doesn't guarantee quality anymore -- just healthier ingredients, GM foods aside.

What the hell do you guys buy at the store?

[Duer 157099]

1. What do I buy?

Let's see, I went to the store last night to pick up a few things: whole grain bread, milk, apples, cucumbers, potatoes, sour cream, tomatoes, onions, avocados, kefir, sliced turkey, cheddar cheese. I think that's it. It all seemed like food to me.

[Flaxbee]

3. all of that is "core" food - ingredients, essentially.

Not mixed, pre-packaged stuff that is terrible.

I was just very surprised that even cereal - what used to be a quick, convenient breakfast - now just has really minimal food and taste quality.

[Juneboarder]

19. "Food"

I wonder if any of those items are non-GMO and organic?

[Systematic Chaos]

2. I've been meaning to do a post or even a video about this topic.

But unlike many, I'm coming from the position that the decline in the quality of nearly all 'junk' foods has done a lot to steer me towards healthy eating.

I am a food addict in recovery, and at 43 I'm old enough to remember when name brand candy, chips, ice cream and so forth were as pleasurable as they were unhealthy to eat. Well, that's not true at all today! It's all exactly as you described and not worth the high prices. Not even to a stress eater like me. I honestly never thought that I would have corporate cost-cutting and greed to thank, at least in part, for positive changes in my weight and health!

So, my diet now mostly consists of complex starches such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, brown rice and other whole grains, which I supplement with whatever veggies and fruit we can find on sale. We also do a lot of things with bagged beans and whole wheat pasta. All very healthy food.

It is worth noting, though, that now much of the frozen produce in stores comes from China. The regular grocery store brands of things like broccoli cuts have much more of a tendency to have pieces in there that are nothing but the really tough and un-chewable parts from the bottom of the stalk. And as for the dollar store stuff, don't even bother. I had a batch of vegetable 'fried' -- in quotes because only a bit of water is used in place of oil for sauteing -- rice with a dollar store Asian vegetable medley (from China, naturally), and every other bite had a piece of broccoli or pepper which you couldn't chew at all! I gave up less than halfway through the container and threw the remainder out. Things like this make shopping on a tight budget somewhat bland at times, but it's better than prepared crap food or starvation.

[Flaxbee]

4. It is interesting that as companies try to maximize profit by reducing quality, they're

(hopefully) driving people away from their product.

Devil's Food cookies actually used to taste good - now they're awful. I never really indulged in a lot of junk food - but I do recall when things like Chips Ahoy actually tasted OK - not like homemade cookies, but OK.

Cereal - a quick breakfast or dessert - just is bland or awful.

I know re China - and there is no need for food quality to be this bad - when you subject the basic necessities of life (decent food quality, health care, etc.) to an overzealous profit motive, you end up with terrible product. And with something as essential as food, it's tragic.

It just pisses me off that our local grocery store got rid of the organic dry goods bins - I could get quinoa and really nice rices and granolas for 1/4 of the bagged price. I will NOT pay $8 for a 12 oz bag of quinoa, dammit!

Anyway - I'm glad to hear you're eating much more healthily!

[KamaAina]

16. The idea of China exporting food is seriously dorked

A main theme throughout Chinese history has been the struggle to produce enough food to feed all those mouths. Most of the time, they succeed -- barely. Sometimes they don't. How do you think all those Chinese people ended up here, in Southeast Asia, etc.?

China as an exporter of food is clearly not sustainable.

[REP]

5. Went today:

Baby carrots, a pineapple, chicken breasts, a TJ's lasagne (I usually don't get packaged food, but Trader Joe's lasagne is awfully good). My husband loves TJ's stoned wheat crackers and their woven wheat wafers; I like their High Fiber Cereal (looks likes bits of brown string, but tastes great).

I don't buy dinner mixes. I'm a good cook and fussy about things tasting like food, not salt.

[nadine_mn]

6. We just went shopping tonight..spent $200

For the two of us (we're fatties) and over the past 9 months or so I have become more and more aware of the crap we eat...prepackaged crap that tastes like crud. I have been trying to do more cooking at home now so our shopping trip consisted mainly of shopping the perimeter. The packaged stuff we did buy was mac and cheese (comfort food), dried pasta, rice, canned veggies, stuff like that. Most of our cart was produce, dairy and a little meat. Blogs like Bruce Bradley's blog have really opened my eyes about all the chemicals that make food taste so crappy. We have cut out fast food almost entirely (subway is about it).

I am trying to make more and more things from scratch and we have been losing weight (we work out too). Pre-packaged can be cheaper but you pay more in the long run in long term health issues like diabetes, heart disease etc.

I agree with you, stuff just tastes awful and you don't feel good eating it.

[woodsprite]

7. We used to have hot dogs once a week (Friday nights)

Hotdogs, mac & cheese and broccoli - quick, easy, and the kids thought the hot dogs were a treat.

Over the past couple of years, we've changed that to once every 1 or 2 months. For the life of me, I cannot find a hot dog that tastes decent anymore. Even the kosher ones. Some seem to have a ton of garlic in them. I think it's to cover the taste up.

Instead, we've gone to making ham/swiss pockets and broccoli or calling for Domino's Pacific Veggie thin crust pizza.

I want to try making our own pizza (using various leftovers for toppings), but Fridays are hectic to say the least. After all the running around (work, daycare, school, doggie playcare), I just want to crash and have dinner, a beer, and watch a movie with the family.

[OriginalGeek]

14. we used to love plain old Oscar Myer

hot dogs - all beef only. They changed something and they started tasting like shit about 2 years ago as near as I can recall.

We get some brand of kosher dogs now (I can't remember the name other than they are NOT Nathan's - I recognize the package when I go to the store) and I like them just fine. They are a little more expensive than the old Oscar Myer beef franks were but they are often on sale or BoGo. we stock up and freeze what we aren't eating now.

I like the deli bologna better too. Boar's Head. I get a lot of salami and pepperoni and cappicola from the deli and make my own subs.


Now I hope nobody comes along with horror tales of Boar's Head processing facilities lol...

[femmocrat]

24. Ball Park used to make a smoked white turkey hot dog.

It was expensive, but it pretty good. It's no longer available.

[HopeHoops]

8. I don't go to the grocery store. They don't sell beer here.

[ohiosmith]

10. They don't sell beer at your grocery store!?

Move out of there, RIGHT FUCKING NOW!

[HopeHoops]

12. PA has some really fucked up beer, wine, and liquor laws.

Technically, there ARE grocery stores that sell beer, but it has to be sold in a separate area that also serves food (sit down eatery) and you can't pay for the beer at the regular registers. That basically means that only the huge chains like Giant and Wegman's can sell beer. On top of that, beer by the six pack costs double what it would by the case. If a specific type costs $16 per case at a beer distributor, a six pack at a grocery or bar costs $8. And get this - you can only carry out two six packs per visit.

They toyed with wine kiosks at grocery stores that made you scan your license, blow into a breath analysis port, be photographed, and submit to a transvaginal ultrasound, but the damn things jammed so often that the grocery stores told the LCB to get them the hell out of there. Fortunately, the state-regulated prices at the state stores are pretty good and they don't approve price increases very often.

[pipi_k]

9. I've been having serious issues

with some store brand (and one well known brand) of pasta....spaghetti and elbow macaroni.

I don't make spaghetti and stuff a lot, so the boxes tend to sit in my cabinets a while. I can't count the number of times I've gone to cook pasta and when I pour it from the box into the water, there are tiny little bugs floating around.

I thought it was a problem in my kitchen, so next time we got a new box I used it and then taped the ends up tight so nothing could get in.

Same thing. That's when I realized that the pasta had tiny little holes in it, and little specks that looked like wheat grain but was likely insect eggs that hatch when the box has sat around a while.

There are one or two brands where this has never happened.

No more store brands of pasta, and I've told Mr Pipi not to buy XYZ brand as well.

[hedgehog]

11. There really isn't any way to keep insect eggs out of

grain products - unless you're willing to tolerate really nasty pesticides. Personally, I 'd prefer a little extra protein.

If it's a problem, keep your grain products as cool as you can, even go so far as to put them into the fridge or freezer.

[CBGLuthier]

13. yes it does. That is why we make everything ourselves including crackers

We buy flour and milk and shortening and butter and yeast and make our own english muffins, pita bread, crackers, biscuits, pizza dough etc.

We buy Masa Harina and make our own corn tortillas. We cook our own beans.

We make our own yogurt because good quality yogurt is too expensive and it is real easy to do.

We buy cracked wheat or rice, shallots, lemons, olive oil, grapes, feta cheese and make fresh salads.

We buy very little that is in a box. We seldom get meat, just a little seafood now and then. Tuna fish tacos is a current favorite using Rick Bayless's recipe. Always with fresh made tortillas.

We figure you got to eat enough shit in life without eating "actual" shit.

[AnneD]

15. If the package says....

cellulose...you can bet it has wood (sawdust) filler in it. Why else the rush to put organic fiber into everything. And this is perfectly legal-just like pink slime. Now I know your taste buds change over time but I agree with the premises.

I buy vegetables I can see, meat I can see muscle flesh, and ingredients. I try to keep the processed food at a minimum level. I get those rice sides like Zatarain, but when I look at the opened package, I can tell what is what. I was shocked when I saw where some of the frozen veggies came from (China)-now I carefully read those labels too. I hate that they are slipping GMO in or food against our will.

I am a notorious penny pincher, but hubby and I had a debate one day when I put some cage free free range eggs in the cart. He looked at the price and freaked. I told him that happy chickens produce better, tastier eggs. I think I can pay a little extra for that.

I was raised on a farm. I know what real food tastes like.

[LynneSin]

17. Lately I've been buying less and less packaged foods

As I'm trying to lose weight I'm relying less on packaged foods and more on stuff I prep myself. Today for lunch I had a huge garden salad made of organic veggies along with a baked potato.

Since I"ve switched my diet around I've been sleeping better and feeling less bloated. But I still crave junk food.

[Flaxbee]

23. The cravings will diminish... or, if you succumb to a craving for junk food after a month or so of

healthy food, you'll really be able to feel it - the huge quantities of salt and fat. I think once your body gets used to good food, you won't want the junk so much.

But - we aren't purists by any stretch - we still grab fast food every once in a while (fish or chicken and I try not to think of where the fish comes from) but then regret it when we drink a gallon of water afterward - fast food is the equivalent of eating a salt lick.

We also are mostly vegetarian - I just don't trust the food quality any more, not to mention the awful conditions the animals are raised in. Healthier (and kinder) all-around to avoid meat unless you know how it has been raised and slaughtered. It's a very hard habit to kick, though, especially if you're a busy person.

[Arugula Latte]

18. I buy these crackers -- they're pretty tasty and also nutritious

[Flaxbee]

22. I've never seen that brand ... will keep a lookout for it, though.

thanks!

[Sanity Claws]

20. Agreed, sister

Even brands that I used to consider good are crap. I'm thinking of tuna in particular. Chicken of the Sea, Star-Kist and other name brands put some soy stuff in their tuna. Yuck! I will buy only Trader Joe tuna now; it doesn't have any of that extra crap.

I don't know what I would do if Trader Joe's was not around. On the whole, it carries quality food at reasonable prices.

[Flaxbee]

21. Our nearest TJ is about an hour away; whenever we're in the area we stop in...

I just am really shocked at how much food quality has degraded... it has probably been gradual, but has reached such a low now that it's noticeable.

Seems almost everything offered now is less quantity and quality for a higher price. I never really bought much in the way of pre-packaged meals, but I grab a few every so often just in case we need a quick meal and there's no time to cook --- I don't think I'll do that anymore. I had a box of Annie's Organic Mac & Cheese yesterday and even it didn't taste very good.

Sigh.

It's just that the good food - really good cheeses, anything with true flavor - is very $$$.