Tag: groceries

In US Food Industry, Cheap Can Be Tricky

admin / / Food Industry, Gbudd

Grocery Shopping
Any American can tell you that competition is key in a strained economy – for jobs, for the lowest prices, etc.  The claws are out as people across the country go to extremes to make and save money.  It’s not just the individuals who are competing, but the American businesses, as well.

Recently, competitive juices have been poisoning the ethics of the food industry.  The issue of “food fraud” is on the rise as aggressive strategies turn to deceit.  Food fraud is when food items are sold under false claims.  A number of reputable publications including the Washington Post and Newsweek have explored the aggravation of the issue during the recession.  An eye-opening article by Lyndsey Layton in the Washington Post highlights a few sneaky examples:

“The expensive ‘sheep’s milk’ cheese in a Manhattan market was really made from cow’s milk. And a jar of ‘Sturgeon caviar’ was, in fact, Mississippi paddlefish. Some honey makers dilute their honey with sugar beets or corn syrup, their competitors say, but still market it as 100 percent pure at a premium price.”

(image courtesy of http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photo-gourmet-food-collage-image3333785)
(image courtesy of http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photo-gourmet-food-collage-image3333785)

According to Helena Bottemiller of Food Safety News, Food scammers have tricked not only shoppers, and but also big distribution companies like Heinz USA.  According to Brandon Glenn of Med City News, an estimated 5 to 7 percent of US food supply is involved in food fraud.

Fast-paced global trade and the growing demand for cheaper food have intensified the problem, and the FDA is feeling the heat as American urge them to crackdown on product labeling and authentification.  This is where technology comes in: advanced DNA testing allows scientists to compare products to a database of samples to prove their legitimacy.  Unfortunately, Newsweek reports, the FDA doesn’t have the resources to inspect the majority of the foods in the American supply.  Looks like we as consumers have to stay on our toes.

So don’t let your bargain obsession impair your judgment – if that sweet deal for gourmet treats looks too good to be true, it probably is.

For US Consumers, Coupon Cutting is Cool

admin / / Food Industry, Gbudd

coupons

Everybody needs to get food and groceries.  There’s simply no way around it.  But a number of recent articles show that people are cutting back on groceries and stressing out about saving some money on those mandatory grocery runs.

In November 2009, Caroline Scott-Thomas of Food Navigator USA.com published an article about current grocery shopping habits.  Interestingly enough, she cites a recent survey that found that while consumers are generally less concerned about the overall state of the economy, they are more concerned about the cost of groceries.  More and more Americans are hunting for coupons and purchasing more store brand food products to save a few bucks.  The survey results also show that even people in higher income groups are using these money-saving tactics in the grocery store: about half of the people polled with household incomes of over $75,000 a year say they cut coupons.

These survey findings match up with Todd Hale’s assessment of Consumer Goods Spending for nielsen.com.  Bargain hunting is the new fad for the majority of Americans given the struggling US economy.  People are choosing to buy cheaper proteins like chicken and turkey as opposed to beef and seafood, and they’re preparing more meals at home to avoid those expensive dinners out on the town.

Laura Harders, creator of the blog "Frugal Friends in Northern Virginia"
Laura Harders, creator of the blog "Frugal Friends in Northern Virginia"

Online deals also make grocery bargains more accessible to the average consumer.  There are online groups and websites devoted to sharing coupons and deals, such as Laura Harders’ blog “Frugal Friends in Northern Virginia.” Food manufacturing companies also cater to the coupon trend by posting coupons on the company’s official website.  While consumers used to obtain coupons from print media like newspapers and magazines, now Google can pinpoint a plethora of coupons – and even coupon communities – in just one click.

Coupon cutting isn’t just for persnickety people with too much time on their hands.  Today, coupon cutting is the thing to do.