Foods

I love love love whole foods. Well - last week the whole foods closest to me (one mile away) closed due to infestations. The goverment shut em' down!

Upon a check, the found rat traps and droppings undernieth the colors for thier prepared foods and cheeses/meats, etc...

SOOOO SICK. This was THE cleanest (looking) whole foods near my house, in a VERY good area of chicago - it really makes you think...

They gave whole foods like 3 days to clean it up....inwhich they were closed.

When they came back to re-check it - it DID NOT pass! They found new rat droppipngs! AHHH

Now - it's finally opened - but I am scared to go back and have yet to walk threw those doors! it's been opened for a number of days now - and in the past I am in there a few times a week....but I haven't gone back. Pretty groody...eh'?

Oh dear >_<

Ewww.

But, I guess that's what you get from a company founded in Texas.  ;)

That place is all about image.  It is so trendy, I'm not really a fan.  I'd rather go the the farmers market to get my fresh organic stuff.  Anything in a box, I can get from any store, and pay a lot less.

Kaffwynn - I go to farmers markets every wednesday and saturday! I can however only get certain fruits and veg's there. I get others at Stanley's (fruit/veg market),  Jewel, Domonicks, and once in a while at Trader Joes, and Whole Foods.

I usually go to Whole Foods for there large selection of cheeses (which are NOT offered at other grocery stores, at least certain kinds that I love are not). And - certain packaged products, breads, canned items, meats, and other specialty items are ONLY available at whole foods.


Those I cannot buy elsewhere.... and that, that is what sucks!

Yeah, I can totally see that.  I live in a unique area with lots of health conscious gourmets, so the selection at some of our indie markets is especially good.

As for cheese, I don't really eat it, so I'm off the hook.  If I did like it, there's at least 3 specialty cheese vendors at our market.  I'm kinda' lucky though, we have one of the largest markets in my area.  There are even several free range meat/fish stands, as well as regular dairy (with the BEST fresh butter made by these french chicks), yogurt, bread, etc.  I can't really think of too many things that I need to go to the grocery store for.  I think cottage cheese, and if I want any packaged foods.

Lately I've really been trying to focus on buying local, so if I can't get it at the market, then it isn't in season, and I don't want it.  I've been thinking about joining a farm co-op for the winter when I don't like to trek out to the farmers market in the rain.

I just wish pineapples grew here.  :(

The movie theater here has the same problems.  Totally disgusting! 

Let me clue you in - all grocery stores are disgusting.  Whole Foods may be worse than some but that's because they don't want to put out the poisons and pesticides so that they contaminate your organic foods.  Sort of defeats the purpose of being organic doesn't it? Now take a moment and think about what the other stores *are* using to kill those things........

 

I hate to say it, but do you really think that ANY big food store is rodent/pest-free? There will always be food spillages in the loading dock, broken packets, food waste in the dumpsters outside, and it all attracts vermin. You just have to hope that the pests stay outside and away from the fresh food...

whole foods is my mecca. I'll never rag on them!

The bugs and rodents know what's edible, so they want the unpolluted foods!

Despite that, I don't like Whole Foods; they're gradually undermining the natural food niche.  My own local natural food store started out as a co-op, went to employee ownership, then to a "regular" store, then was bought out by Wild Oats, and then of course by Whole Foods.

The Starbuckization of Amerika.....

 

 

We've not long had Whole Foods Market (is that the same place?) in the UK.  Went to take a look at one branch recently because I'm in the food business and it's always good to see what's new.  I was frankly appalled by the standard of their fresh fruit and veg and that's always my benchmark of a good shop.  The fancy displays were very pretty but the low turnover of stock meant really tired produce was on display and the price they had the nerve to charge for it was a joke.  Admittedly this was a part of central London (Kensington) where quite a few have 'more money than sense' and think any old crud is fine as long as it's got an organic or a fairtrade label.  But judging by the way the goods sat around, if it's the same in Chicago, I'm not surprised they have a pest problem.

Morrighu - thanks for "clueing" me in. I am now so enlightened.

All grocery stores are not "disgusting" - maybe they are where you live. Sorry, that must suck.

Yes, stores have their issues - sanitation, etc.... But I still do nto find it acceptable. I love whole foods and will be back but I thought I should post this.

I am sorry that you have come to accept such low standards in your grocery stores..... ick....

Not me. Just my personal prefrence. We all live to different standards.

Have fun on your next grocery trip. I hope you enjoy eating your foods with rat poopies and rat hair..... mmmmm yummy :)

You know, I'm an health inspector and I don't find that all grocery stores have issues. All of them have integrated pest management  (IPM) programs that are in place to keep the critters out. That does not mean that they are 100% successful all of the time, but by and large, the IPM folks do their job and do it well.

As someone else pointed out - the rodents want the good stuff, too;) And if there is any kind of easy access, well, they aren't stupid - they'll find their piece of heaven where they can.

Just remember to wash off any produce that you bring home from the grocery store or the farmers' markets - after all, you don't know what critter slipped out of the woods or surrounding fields at your local farm and had its "constitutional" around your fresh fruits or veg.....

*wink*