|
Post by concerned on Apr 13, 2010 10:36:54 GMT -5
Wow. This OD ran this story today www.uticaod.com/latestnews/x998218485/Plan-would-expand-access-to-fresh-foodNEW YORK — Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand proposed $1 billion in loans and grants Monday to help build 2,100 grocery stores in areas around the nation that lack access to fresh food. Gillibrand said the measure would help about four million New York residents living in so-called food deserts by providing the funding for more than 350 stores statewide, many in low-income areas. Modeled on a similar program in Pennsylvania, the legislation would provide startup grants and loans in rural and urban areas to expand access to fresh food and to create jobs. Anyways I thought I read a story from Science Daily on a study that was done on the Pennsylvania food program and the large amount of bacteria infected food that was found in that food program. So I gave the link and posted a review: the Utica OD dropped my comment. He is the story from Science Daily:www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100409152029.htmTainted Produce More Likely for Shoppers in Low-Income Neighborhoods, Study Suggests ScienceDaily (Apr. 13, 2010) — No one wants a mixed salad tossed with extra bacteria, mold and yeast, but those are just what you might find when you try to eat a healthier diet in poorer neighborhoods. A new study shows that the level of bacteria found on the fresh produce can vary according to the income level of the neighborhoods where it is for sale. Researchers compared levels of bacteria, yeast and mold on identical products sold in six Philadelphia-area neighborhoods. They selected three of the neighborhoods because they had the city’s highest poverty levels. In these, consumer options tended to be small markets that offered less variety in fruits and vegetables. The result: ready-to-eat salads and strawberries sold in stores in the poorer neighborhoods had significantly higher counts of microorganisms, yeasts and molds than the same products purchased elsewhere, while cucumbers had a higher yeast count and mold and watermelon contained more bacteria. “Food deteriorates when there is microbial growth,” said study co-author Jennifer Quinlan, a professor of nutrition and biology at Drexel University. “The bacterial count is used to determine the quality of the produce and it was poorer quality, closer to being spoiled. Three of the things that had a higher bacteria count — strawberries, ready-to-go salad and fresh-cut watermelon — have been associated with food-borne Read the rest of the story and I will send a letter to the OD and the Senator
|
|
|
Post by chris on Apr 13, 2010 19:31:05 GMT -5
Before big Grocery stores all there were was vegetable stands and your local small grocer. (Isn't that how the Big Stores started ) From what I remember they were always fresh and not spoiled. (we didn't buy the bad moldy stuff if there was any) When I compare Wegmans food to Walmart's....I can't even phanthom buying anything in Wallymart...their stuff is gross compared to Weggies. So no bargains I see there.
I doubt very much the neighborhood stores will be accessed by the poor as their eating habits are mostly fried and junk food. Your can't change people......but education can help.
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Apr 13, 2010 23:51:50 GMT -5
Unless it's packaged and on sale, I don't buy ANYTHING at Walmart grocery wise. Their meat is expensive and disgusting. Their produce is seldom fresh and not of high grade. The last time I walked by their produce department, the heads of lettuce were loose and only about the size of a softball and were like $1.49 a head. I was there for a sale on coffee. My favorite grocery has wonderful produce, and in summer I buy from the farmer's market downtown. My Food Country Store has high quality meat and it is custom cut if you wish a special cut, for a minimal charge over what the prepackaged meat is. I love buying 2 1/2 inch pork chops to butterfly and stuff, and also the ground sirloin, stuffed through the grinder while you watch, with no WATER added to it.
Chris, you are probably right about the poor eating mostly fried foods and junk, and not just the poverty level, dirt poor. I see a lot of people buying those 10 lb bags of chicken legs at Walmart for about $3 a bag, and lots of their prepackaged hamburg meat. When I drove for them, the hamburg meat came out of Johnstown distribution center, but who the hell knows where it came from before that, and how long it was at Johnstown before it went to a store. Those damned chicken legs and thighs, gross me out. All pale and white and with a pint of bloody water in the bag with them. I buy chickens from my meat cutter that are nice and yellow, rich looking, and flavorful. Chicken is not supposed to be frozen, thawed and gray before you ever get it home to put it in YOUR freezer, LOL.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2010 4:42:21 GMT -5
Walmart used to employ meatcutters in all their stores. That is until thay attempted to unionize. So, that was the end of that. That's why they sell that prepacked garbage coming from who knows where. Beware.
|
|
|
Post by bobbbiez on Apr 14, 2010 9:28:58 GMT -5
That is the reason I have never or will I ever buy meats from Walmart. Sorry, but only buy fresh meats from any store. I want it right out of the meat counter and cut to my liking. Better tasting and safer.
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Apr 14, 2010 10:58:51 GMT -5
You guys are fortunate up in that area to have many meat markets still in existence. I always bought my meat from Pulaski, Chanatry, Hap's, Meelan's in Clark's Mills, or at Mazzaferro's in Rome.
We have markets here that have a meat counter, but the quality of the meat cut is about like Walmart. My buddy at Food Country will custom cut anything I want and the meat is very high quality. He will slice a few ham steaks off a whole ham for me and then wrap the whole package up for the sale price of the ham. I pick out a good chuck roast or round roast, and a pork butt and he bones it, cubes it, and grinds 6 or 7 pounds of meatball mix for me. When I want steak, he picks a good piece of meat and slices the steaks while I watch. Same with Hamburger. I buy ground round or ground sirloin most times, and he grinds it while I watch, with no water or extra fat added. When eye of the round roast is on sale, I buy a couple and he grinds them for me.
I don't scrimp on meat or produce. I guess I am fortunate, and I understand the plight of young couples trying to feed a family and yet maintain some sort of quality standard in meats and veggies. Groceries are expensive in today's world, but we must keep our purchases confined to what local products we can find and to AMERICAN produced meats and vegetables.
Supporting the farmers is very important. Our local farmers here that used to raise tobacco, were given a grant to change over to something different under the tobacco buyout program. Many started raising sheep, and a local food store chain started featuring locally grown lamb at a decent price. I don't care for lamb, or shop there, but they support local business. They have their cold cuts made by a local company and packed under their store name, and they have such things as potato chips and corn chips made right here in Bristol by Snack Alliance, and packed under their private label. Much of their produce comes from Unicoi County Tennessee when it is in season. I buy local produce, normally from a local produce market, and from the farmer's market, but in winter, I buy from my grocer and have to depend on him to pick safe and high quality produce. Another reason for my shopping at my Food Country store. Quality!
NEVER have I seen a recall of a local product, nor a food borne illness outbreak from local products. Usually it is at the markets like Kroger or Walmart and is hamburger or produce from a foreign country or questionable packing facility. When the big spinach scare came about, we still had local spinach, at a premium price, but lots of it available. We still ate our spinach salads with confidence. Walmart would like you to think that volume is what keeps their prices down, but they also get a lower GRADE of product in huge quantity, and that contributes to their low price. When ya buy Walmart hamburger it is not unusual to have to wait for the water to boil off before the meat begins to brown. Hey, why pay $2.50 or so a pound for water. As in everything else in life, you get what you pay for when you bargain shop for "cheap" food. Local is the way to go, but poor people in poorer neighborhoods aren't going to spend the money to buy quality when they can get quantity of lower quality with their food dollars. They will be content with the pale white, bloody bags of chicken legs from Wally, rather than quality product from a higher grade outlet.
|
|
|
Post by bobbbiez on Apr 14, 2010 11:08:57 GMT -5
Clipper, some of the best stores you listed have meats cheaper then Walmart, especially with their sales. Cheaper doesn't have to mean Walmart. People just have to check around and know their prices to get better quality in meats.
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Apr 14, 2010 11:17:25 GMT -5
Chanatry's especially will make sure that they are competitive with Price Chopper and Walmart, and their meat is excellent. The smaller meat markets try also, but I would pay twice the price for the quality you get at Pulaski and Meelans, so price is not the object with them.
|
|
|
Post by Swimmy on Apr 14, 2010 11:49:58 GMT -5
concerned,
don't worry. I can't even log in anymore. Just tried and it won't log me in.
|
|
|
Post by corner on Apr 14, 2010 13:36:04 GMT -5
same here now isnt that interesting?
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Apr 14, 2010 13:50:24 GMT -5
Hmmm. I blast hell out of them on their own comment section and I am still able to post. That is strange. You guys must have REALLY crapped in Donna's rice crispies, hahaha.
|
|
|
Post by chris on Apr 14, 2010 16:31:53 GMT -5
They must not know me yet....I got into both of those url's just now. Or are you talking about accessing the website comments section...that I'm not registered to ;D
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2010 17:41:30 GMT -5
I hear that Save-A Lot's meat is imported from Mexico. Now, I don't know if it's true or not, but I'm not about to take a chance to find out.
|
|
|
Post by corner on Apr 14, 2010 19:25:08 GMT -5
interesting still just let me back in
|
|
|
Post by Ralph on Apr 15, 2010 0:20:50 GMT -5
I hear that Save-A Lot's meat is imported from Mexico. Now, I don't know if it's true or not, but I'm not about to take a chance to find out. Chihuahua.........the other white meat. ;D
|
|