In an effort to get a handle on the overwhelming amount of
food that is wasted in this country, a new store and restaurant are opening to
sell “expired” grocery items.
Do you think this concept will work? Please state your
reason why or why not?
Would you shop/eat there?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTB 40796
ReplyDeleteI believe it will work. There are a lot of people who are strongly against wasting food and would shop here to support it. People are also looking for bargains and ways to spend less money on food especially for families because families spend a good amount of money just on food alone each week. I personally would not eat there because some expired foods could make someone really sick and i do not want to take the risk.
Michele 96
DeleteI completely agree with you... There are people that dig through trash cans out side of high end restaurants and grocery stores for food being thrown away that's past the sell date. It's hard for people to justify dumpster diving in general, but even more so when it comes to food.
Chris M. 97
ReplyDeleteMy understanding of the dates on food products found in stores is that it is a sell-by date. That does not mean that the food past its sell-by date is bad. Having said that, I am the type of person who wants nothing to do with milk, eggs, or meats when that date arrives. Bread tends to be somewhat stale by its date as well.
If a store and/or a restaurant opened selling food items that were out-of-date, or prepared from items that were out-of-date, and were able to offer their products at a substantially lower price that what is available now, I think it would be successful. There are a couple of reasons for a good chance of success. First, I believe that there are plenty of people that do not care if a food item is a little past its date and certainly would not mind saving some money. Then you have the sad fact that too many people are in a poor financial state and a store that is offering inexpensive food (making it possible to properly feed their families) would be too great of a draw to pass up.
I have, in the past, shopped at the day old bread stores, and I sometimes consider buying meats that are reduced in price due to the fact its sell-by date has arrived. However, I would not routinely shop at a store that offers a variety of out-of-date items because I do prefer fresh food. As for a restaurant that prepared meals from out-of-date items, there is no way I would eat there because I would have no idea how far out of date the food actually was.
Luis M. 97
DeleteI definitely agree with you, I can see this benefiting some people because the low cost. However, I wouldn't be able to shop in there because I would be afraid of getting sick. hospital bills area to expensive to take the risk.
Chris M. 97 in response to TB 40796
ReplyDeleteIsn't it interesting that we both think it would work, but that neither of us would eat there?
There have been times that I have eaten at an establishment and got sick, then wondered if the food was old or just improperly prepared.
Some friends and got food poisoning from a restaurant in Atlanta once. I'm almost sure that they had left the food sitting out too long. It was oysters, and they brought them out to my friends and I. The only person that didn't get sick was the only person at the table that wouldn't eat one. So I ate the oyster that was left. I won't go into great detail on here, but I was almost sure after throwing up for a whole day that I was going to die...l0l
DeleteYes, I believe that this concept may work. Many foods, even if expired, may very much be edible and there is no need to put edible food to waste. These types of grocery stores could be very beneficial to people that cannot afford much, or people who simply want to save money.
ReplyDeleteChris W.(97)
DeleteI disagree. Although I see that there is a problem with putting food to waste there are different solutions to the problem. I think this is not about conserving food but more about business and making money. If markets want to stop wasting so much food they should take better a better inventory of their stock. There are many cases of people dying from food food poisoning which is why there are expiration dates on foods. The main goal in this article is to prevent wasting food and there are better options to achieve it.
Veronica E. 97 in response to Mercedes S.
DeleteI agree with you. I think there are a lot of people out there that are not getting enough to eat and this could be beneficial to them. A lot of the food is only expired by the sale by date and is still okay to eat. I think people could still use their better judgment to tell if it was edible or not.
Michele Smith 96
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't eat there... I believe once it's out of date that it's not fit for consumption anymore. I have come across food that was well within the date of expiration and it already turn. It doesn't happen often, but it has happened enough times to make me wonder if sometimes they put food on the market right before it goes bad on purpose... But, for those brave souls out there that need to save money on food, I think it would work for them.
Chris G 95
DeleteI agree with you. This could work for some people but not for others. This would be perfect for people who want to save money but not for people who want for example the best quality from their food.
Chris G 95
ReplyDeleteHonestly i think something like this could go either way. I think it depends on how expired the food that they're selling really is. I don't think i would shop/eat there. I think this would work because there is a lot of people who are against wasting food but some people might also think its gross.
Seriously? I would never PAY for expired food. They put a time limit on it for a reason. I think if anything they should GIVE it away to people who can't go out and buy all that food. Then its not wasted and no one will pay for bad products. Simple as that!
ReplyDeleteChris M. 97 in response to Casey
DeleteI like that idea. Give it away: fill a need and no waste.
But I can hear the critics! They would cry foul over giving the needy old food, suggesting that those making the donations must think that those in need do not deserve any better.
Paying for expired foods is ridiculous. I also like the idea of donating the foods to families in need rather than throwing it away or trying to make $1 off of it. Never would I eat at a restaurant knowing they prepared expired foods. Shanah E.97
DeleteI 100% agree to this statement! I would no way ever pay for expired foods. I would not even eat or use it if it was given to me! I agree with giving it away to the unfortunate. I have been blessed to always have good food when I need it, I would not go out of my way to use expired food to risk getting sick by all means! Callie G. 64
DeleteSarah M 97
Deletei agree with you. why would they want to sell expired product that could cause great health issues....
Deonte M 90
ReplyDeletePersonally I would never pay for food that is expired. I would not pay because I am serious about my nutrition as I am an exercise enthusiast. Also, the expiration date on food refers to the half-life of elements and compounds within the foods. Once the food surpasses the expiration date it goes through an half life cycle "going bad" meaning that it changes to an different isotope of that particular element or nutrient. In simple terms after the expiration the food is not what it once was nutritionally.
Heather P.97 in response to Deonte M.90. Health and fitness are a huge concern to me too. I am also familiar with elements changing making consumption more dangerous. I also know there are many people who can't always afford the best choices in foods. It's like a double edged sword in ways. In order for our bodies to work the best, we have to nourish them in the best ways possible.
DeleteI think this would work as long as it deal with expired dry good and cans goods, but the meats would have to be on a day to day sell, and I say that because sometime Kroger or even Sam's will mark down their meats and if you buy them you need to cook it that day or the next day. Its not something that I think you could freeze and use at a later date.
ReplyDeleteJwright90
I think it's a great concept because not all food is actually bad on the expiration date and is good a number of days after. I work in a meat department and we have stuff that comes in and has a self life of 60 days but because the meat changes color after being cut we place it on the self with 3-4 days for the expiration date as to keep it looking good for the Customer to buy. Under ideal conditions these meats will stay fresh and well surpass the expiration date. Depending on the food I would buy from a store but, as far as a restaurant goes I wouldn't bother with going there to eat. This is due to the fact they are probably going to be pushing selling old food that is stale.
ReplyDeleteIt would depend on what the food is. It would be a great ideal. Most food does not expired on the date they put. They say can food can last for years and they put and expiration date on those. if it can be done I say go for it
ReplyDeleteHello Priscilla,
DeleteI say go for it too. It amazes me that people are so hung up on expiration dates. Anyone who has their own kitchen knows that sometimes the expiration on certain items isn't an exact science. Food has risen so much over the years, I think if you can find a cheaper alternative as long as your not putting yourself in harms way then its all for the better. Now buying meat or milk I probably wouldn't do unless it was fat free milk because that never expires by the due date but anything else I think I would buy. What foods would you buy, if any that are expired? Talk with you soon, Z
Hello Zereana
DeleteOnly foods I would continue tdo eat beyond it's experation date would be can goods. Milk does last past it's date, but you still my want to smell it if not drink within a few days. ;-) There is so much bad food good around now days who knows what is good even with an experation date on it. they also say peanut butter has no experation date on it, but when that oil rise to the top doyou really want to eat it? ;-)
Luis M. 97
ReplyDeleteI think some people will definitely benefit from this because the cost of food this days is expensive. I would be afraid to shop in there because I would be scare to risk getting my family sick, and hospital bills are to expensive.
Another good idea would be for the groceries stores to donate all the expired food to the shelters, most people who need the help wouldn't mind to eat a sandwich that was made with expired bread.The only food I would be afraid to feed somebody is meat and dairy.
McKenzie I. (40796)
ReplyDeleteI don't think this would be very successful. There are expiration dates on the foods for a reason. I don't think that I would ever pay for expired food. I would never intentionally give myself food poisoning or put something rotten into my body. Although it may be cheaper than buying fresh food, it doesn't sound very healthy. I understand maybe buying a bag of chips or something of that matter, but not dairy products or any kinds of meats that could make you sick.
in response to McKenzie I (40796)
DeleteFrom your perspective, you are absolutely right. Here is the thing, Have we ever travel to place and see the amount of people that need food to survived every day? As far as I know, America is the leading country that encourages the waste of food. I believed it is the culture and norms of the society not to sell expired food to people. An expired food is completely different from a spoiled food. A food can be expired but still useful for basic human need. I think expired date are considered the date that some stores no longer want an item that is expired but it doesn't mean it is spoiled or not good for eating. I believed that the only thing that will stop other from eating an expired food is when it is smelling. A smelling food is and expired food but an expired food is not an unwanted or smelling food.
DB(40796)
ReplyDeleteI strongly believe that it will work out very well. Why? because the safety of expired food actually depend on how the product is handle when it leave the store. If it's refrigerated, or if it is good for couple of days. The only time that I believe a food is expired and is bad for our health is when the food smell or spoil.
Megan E. 96
ReplyDeleteI might shop here but the fact that the food is older means that you cant keep it around as long once you buy it. If the store keeps it to long then it really will go bad. What is their idea of expired food, and at what point does it become unsafe in there eyes to sell to the public? While everyone wants to eat healthier eating food that has gone bad can get us really sick. If you buy something at the expiration date it is good for maybe a day or two after but how long does it take to transfer to this new store and be prepared for selling?
I don't agree. Expiration dates placed on foods are there for a purpose. If expiration dates won't harm people who consume these foods, then why did they placed on foods. Foods that are already expired need to be thrown away even though it may also benefit others who are in need for foods for examples like homeless and others searching for foods in trash cans and so forth. Also, it may be cheaper for some people, it is still not the right thing to eat to get food poisoning and make yourself sick.
ReplyDeleteChris W.(97)
DeleteI agree. While some people may argue that some of the food may still be nutritional, they would not be able to differentiate what was good and what was not. Are people going to have to sign a waver when they checkout? What many people do not realize is that once food is consumed after the expiration date is that they can get very sick. I've heard of several accounts of people even dying from food poisoning. The only reason I would consume expired food is if I was starving and in desperate measures.
Christopher W. (97)
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't agree with this for my own personal consumption. I am a very healthy eater and I take into account the quality of my food before I eat it. There is a certain point when food begins to lose its nutrition or can become harmful. The expiration date was put of food products for a reason because it has expired. If I were to eat something that was expired and it was to make me sick it would not be anyone's fault but my own. I see that there are two sides to every coin and recognize how devastation the food waste is in our country, but there are better solutions to this problem. Markets should take more precise inventories on their stock of food or they could put the food on sale just days before the expiration date. After taking these alternative methods I think that expired food should be given to the needy. There are people who die of starvation and they are the ones who could benefit the most.
D.peters(90)
ReplyDeleteVery great idea, to give back to the community for no-profit. The parents that are not able to serve his or her children, with much nutrients will be extremely filled with gratitude. I believe the cause will grow even bigger than expected and they may be able to serve the homeless at some point. Now even with the expiration date making much argument, I would personally ask those people what would you do.?
Chelsea N.90
DeleteD. Peters 90 I agree and disagree with you. Some foods expire later on and not directly on the expiration date. However, there is a reason why expiration dates are placed on food and they do in fact go through a changing process as the food elements start breaking down. I would not consciously feel like I am doing anyone a service by selling them old food that could possibly make them sick. If I want to help the homeless, I will personally buy some in-date food and give it to a local pantry that helps people in need. I am not trying to make those who are already in need sick. If you truly want to help someone, you give them your best, not the leftovers that you don't want. If we really think about it, that's what dogs receive from humans and humans to humans don't deserve that kind of treatment. It's a hard pill to swallow, but it's definitely a heart check for society and how we treat and view others.
Luis M 97
DeleteI definitely think that the homeless people wouldn't care if the food was expired, because they already look for food I trash cans. I personally think that this is a wonderful idea to help a lot of people.
Veronica E. 97
ReplyDeleteI think this concept could very well work. Some people are all for not wasting food and would want to shop or eat here. Most of the time food in grocery stores are took off the shelves way before they are spoiled. I might eat at these restaurants for certain things. I don't know if I would go for any kind of expired dairy products. On the other hand, certain things could be stored in the freezer even after the expired sell by date.
janetta c (96)
DeleteI have bought milk that had an expiration date for that day and it tasted okay my family can go thru a gallon of milk daily. I would not buy yogurt or sourcream that was expired, because it would not be consumed as quickly. I have purchased meat that was marked down if I was going to cook in the next day or two that looked good.
Kimberly S. 90
ReplyDeleteI think the store would work to a certain point. It would help prevent people struggling from digging through trash cans for food. On the other hand, there might not be enough people to go along with and use the resources the store or restaurant is giving them. Unless some of the food, like meats, vegetables, etc. were frozen on the expiration date or before and it was some type of policy, my personal preference would be to not eat at the restaurant or shop at a grocery store.
Luis M. 97
DeleteKimberly Stoddard, what is the difference of eating a yogurt that expired yesterday and eating macaroni and cheese? or any other food that doesn't do any good to your body because is nothing but carbohydrates?
I would eat the yogurt........
This has come up before in the past with many tv shows featured on ABC. I believe it was late night. Anyway there are millions of people who actually go out on the streets and fish out expire foods that are just thrown out within a short time period of expiration. Many of the people are not homeless, rather than cheap go getting people that want to save money. Now I believe that people would use these store or restaurants. Of course the people who are digging through dumpsters and trash cans. Personally I would not attend these facilities just due to the way I have been raised to eat and what not to eat (thanks mom). Furthermore, food has an expiration date for a special purpose. Foods that have the expiration date are the best foods to consume before the food starts to decompose and break down causing us to become sick. I personally would not purchase expired food, but I do think these places could work in more densely populated cities.
ReplyDeleteZereana C. 97
ReplyDeleteI personally think this concept would actually work and I would probably be shopping there for my family. There is a large margin of error with the expired food dates and many times I have cooked food that has been expired and it tasted just fine. There are too many hungry hard working families in this country to not give this a shot. Already buying expired food would be good for a quick meal that you want to make that night. Once its cooked you could probably get a few more days out of it. Putting this kind of store in the inner city where there is a surplus of people would seem beneficial.
J Morris 96
ReplyDeleteI think that this concept is a good one because they incorporate expired foods as well as foods that may have been damaged cosmetically, but they are still good to eat. I would have no problem eating or shopping there. The foods are still approved by the FDA and the minor problems with them made the store selling them required them to throw them away. An example of this would be Halloween candy. I use to work at Target and anything food related that got returned we had to throw away, no matter what. That included perfectly good/un-open items and Halloween candy was the big one. I personally thought it was a waste, but if a company wants to buy and sell products like that then I am completely cool with it. Another example would be places like Panera, Atlanta bread co, and dunking doughnuts they all donate their unsold bread like items so I do not see the issue with reselling it for people who are not as wealthy as others or even people who just need food.
I understand where you are coming from but FDA approves the expiration date as well. With the foods being as processed as they are contaminating your body with all that spoiled food couldn't do anything but harm you. Imagine someone going there everyday to stock on groceries for their house. If all that food is spoiled, and not giving the body the correct nutrition what's the point of eating?
DeleteLucy k.84
ReplyDeleteI really disagree with this!Is anybody considering the health of the population? Expired food is already unfit for anyone consumption including even animals.Instead of America having too much food to waste why can't that food go to the suffering Nations of the world like Somalia,Southern Sudan and many others.Secondly there are Americans or people from other parts of the world in American cities like Atlanta begging for Food.Why can't they have that food before it expires! Lastly let's have statistics showing the number of people at a certain area in relation to their rate of consumptiom so that only enough will be supplied to avoid wastage. Stores for expired food will bring more harm even up to death.
janetta c (96)
ReplyDeleteI think that expired food should be given to food pantry's and soup kitchens that feed the poor and homeless, and should not be wasted and thrown away. It should only be given if the food is not in dented cans and the packages are sealed. The dates on food does not mean it is not edible for consumption, the date is used to keep the food fresh on the store shelves. There are more families having a harder time making making ends meet. I have shopped in a store in Murphy, N.C that does sell generic names and expired dates on products. There is a day old bread store in BlueRige, GA that I have shopped in and the bread taste just like getting it from the grocery store and is half the price. I would not eat at a resturant that sold food that is expired because my opinion of edible food may be different then the person preparing and cooking it. Food needs to be cooked at a certain temperature to kill bacteria on it to keep from getting food poisoning. I feel like most people in the United States are wasteful when it comes to food. I think a lot of families would shop at a store that sells expired goods. But I dont feel like people would eat at a resturant that sells expired food.
I disagree about a food store opening up and selling food that is expired. The cans, the meat, and the other items that are in the grocery store have an expired date for a reason and after the date has passed people do not need to buy those foods at all. You also have to think many people have families with small children and you do not want to get meat at the store that is expired cook it, and then your child gets sick because of the meat you got from the store. So no I do not think that this will work because many people will not go into the store and get the food.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAR97
ReplyDeleteI do not think this store nor restaurant will work in our society. Granted some will take advantage of this for many reasons, for example saving money or saving food waste, but they forget expiration dates are there for a reason. Expiration dates came to prevent sickness from foods whose spoiled ingredients could in fact harm the body. With food being as processed as it is, why would you want to put a bad piece of food that even the company who made it says eating it past this date would be a bad idea. I wouldn't eat there not recommended it for anyone to do so.
William H.90
DeleteI completely agree with your assessment. People would take advantage of the discounted prices of this expired food product. Getting people sick is just wrong and I agree that no one should eat from there.
William.H.90
ReplyDeleteI disagree completely with having a store selling expired items to customers. I understand not wanting to waste food product, However with that said expired products have the potential to be a health hazard to the customers. The longer it is expired the more of the chance that someone will get sick. Having worked in the restaurant industry for over 3 years, I realized that serving the best product to our customers is the most important priority to having a satisfactory business model. Getting people sick should never be a business model, and by providing this type of grocery store to the public, this is what business owners accomplish.
Austin T. 96
ReplyDeleteI do not think that selling expired food to customers is a great idea. There is a reason that food has expiration dates and a reason that restaurants and grocery stores throw away expired product. If they sold expired product to a customer and that customer got sick there would probably be a huge law suit on the company's hand. That's what this new restaurant is facing, a huge law suit if they get some one sick. So in my opinion its a pretty stupid idea and it is not going to work.
I really think this will work! What this man is offering is a fantastic way to get all of the proteins and nutrients that people need to the low and lower middle class. The USDA's website makes it very clear that the sell-by and use-by date have absolutely nothing to do with product safety concerns. They give the store a legal freshness base to work with and the consumer a quality base. Most likely when you eat something past its use-by date it wont taste quite like it should. Not bad but not like normal either. You wont get sick or start hyperventilating.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Trader Joes' employees they donate all of the food past its sell-by date to local shelters and food banks. And sadly when the local shelters and food banks don't have the resources to distribute all of the food they throw massive amounts of food away. I couldn't believe it when I heard it. That shelters and food banks were throwing away food. So now comes along another area to help stop the waste. Its a genius business plan and Doug Rauchs track record speaks for itself.
A. Sheffield
ReplyDeleteI do not think this will work. I think people won't shop there because of the expiration date-- even though that does not mean the food is bad. Expiration dates are when stores have to have the item off of their shelves, not when the food goes bad. However, some people will not eat something if the expiration date has passed. On that note, I would shop there. I think the prices would be lower and the food would be just as good. It would save a lot of food and money that is currently being wasted.
I think it will work for those who cook high portions of meals on a daily basis. not all food that is labeled "expired" is really expired. for example, I can make my milk last up to 2-3 weeks after the "expiration date" as long as I keep it refrigerated all the time. I only buy meats on the day that I'm going to cook them because fresh meat is the best way to have it. freezing it then defrosting it takes away all the flavor and makes the meat hard, no matter how much tenderizer you use, it will still be a little "tough".
ReplyDeleteshantal acevedo 40796
Chelsea N.90
ReplyDeleteI personally am very cautious when it comes the food that I eat. Especially when it comes to the expiration date. The expiration date is placed on food as a precautionary. Sometimes food is still good even once it has reached its expiration date. However, once that expiration date has surpassed a certain amount of time, the food is no longer safe to digest. I think there will always be Americans that are willing to gamble a risk for a deal just like some people prefer to shop at thrift stores and get used articles of clothing and such because to them the deal is worth getting something that is of lesser value and used. A store like this could flourish, but there needs to be limits on the foods that come in and how far passed the expiration date the food can be until it is no longer allowed to sell. It's really all about the gamble people are willing to take and the gamble the store is willing to take for profit and the risk of sick people in a sue-happy society.
Kevon P. 90
DeleteChelsea, I have to say that I do agree with your statement. The dates listed on foods are there for obvious reasons. I too also believe that some Americans will in fact purchase food from this restaurant to just get a deal
Kelsey B.96
ReplyDeleteI like the fact that they are trying but I do not think its a good Idea. Because the food is expired so It will not be good to eat I think in order not to waste food people can work on portion control or the amount of foods made.
Salome N 97
ReplyDeleteTo my opinion, I think this concept will work, so long as the selling price is reduced. But it will be helpful to those people who pay attention to know how long can a certain food last without been harmful to human consumption after the expiry date. This idea would work better in stores rather than restaurant where people don't know how long have the food they are eating have lasted after expiry date. I would shop the grocery but not eat already cooked food in the restaurant.
Salome N 97 responding to Mercedes Shropshire
ReplyDeleteI agree with you because not all food that are poisonous when consumed past expiry date. But I would suggest that if Food Control and Poisonous Bond would agree to work together with such restaurant and stores it would be very safe.
Shanah E. 97
ReplyDeleteI cannot see myself ever buying any food that has an expired date on it, regardless of how inexpensive it is. Companies get a tax write off for expired products that go bad so rather than trying to make more money off of them, why not donate them to a homeless shelter, orphanage, or families in need? And never would I think that a restaurant of this type would be a good idea.
Ada Ohanu Online 97 in response to Shanah E. 97
DeleteI definitely agree with you because as low as the price may be not a price in the world can help you pay your hospital bills. Being safe is better than putting your health in danger. I wouldn't want to give it to the homeless or people in need because that would just add to sicker and unhealthy people. I do think the companies should try and find a way to get hunger off the streets since they have all these ways to write checks. They should find ways to stop the waste and help this country with all the waste problems.
Robert C.88
ReplyDeleteThe idea of selling expired food at a discount price is certainly an interesting one. It would seem that most of the food that is considered to be expired doesn’t really differ much from food that isn’t. So it would make since for a company to capitalize on all of this unused product. Yet it brings up some important questions, is the expiration date set in stone or is it simply a suggestion? And does expired food automatically equal rotten or diseased food? To some the expiration date might be considered a simple social stigma propagated by a modern consumer based market. Yet to me, at least subconsciously, I have always used the expiration date as an important indication as to whether or not the food that I am buying is still viable to eat. Without ever really thinking about it, I have always followed expiration dates religiously. It is interesting because I cannot really tell you why exactly I throw away the jelly, or mustard, or bread if it is a day over the expiration date, I just do. It seems unnatural to eat something that expired a few days prior, it makes me think of what horrible, rotten disease is held within the container of sandwich meat, or the jar of mayonnaise. Now if I were to actually sit down and think it over I would realize that there is probably not much difference between the meat I ate a day or two ago, and the one that has now expired. The date may means nothing, but to me, again at least subconsciously it means a lot. Therefore I would more than likely never shop at this store because I have great prejudice against expired food. Yet some people may be fine with it, that’s good for them, they’ll probably spend less on food. But as for me I probably will never do that, it just can’t imagine eating something expired. That probably makes me a bit of a food snob, but oh well, I can be, I am an American after all.
Robert C. 88 in response to Austin T. 96
ReplyDeleteI couldn’t agree more. Selling expired food seems dangerous. I feel like there would be a pretty good chance of getting sick. I think it is more than just a stigma, I think that expired food could actually be dangerous.
Katelyn01: I think that this business will benefit a lot of people. I know that when I go grocery shopping the first place I ALWAYS go, is to the clearance section. Especially in the frozen food aisles. When I do this, I usually go home with two to three times more food. With money tight, this seems to work for me. I also know that food banks give out expired food in their boxes. It is usually frozen items though. Obviously food poisoning is a risk that you take when you consume expired food, but for some who are hungry and poor it is worth the risk. To feel full is a satisfying feeling, and many people will do a lot to get that satisfaction.
ReplyDeleteWilliam W. 90
ReplyDeleteI believe that this concept will not work because of the many diseases that come from expired food. Also, people today will not even take the time out to even think about wasting his or her money on such a thing. My point of view is if we do have food that has expired, and is not harmful to the body is to just give it away for free to people living on the streets. By doing so we wouldn't be wasting all of the expired for and helping those in need.
KatelynN97 in response to SalomeN97: I agree that this will probably be dangerous to the consumer in a restaurant. It would be smart for the company to hire a specialist on food expiration and preparation. This would help the company guard against law suits, as I am sure that expired food is a huge liability concern.
ReplyDeleteKatelynN97:I think that this business will benefit a lot of people. I know that when I go grocery shopping the first place I ALWAYS go, is to the clearance section. Especially in the frozen food aisles. When I do this, I usually go home with two to three times more food. With money tight, this seems to work for me. I also know that food banks give out expired food in their boxes. It is usually frozen items though. Obviously food poisoning is a risk that you take when you consume expired food, but for some who are hungry and poor it is worth the risk. To feel full is a satisfying feeling, and many people will do a lot to get that satisfaction.
ReplyDeleteWilliam W. In response to Chelsea N.90
ReplyDeleteI agree with you because of all the different diseases out there, you must still be careful about some of the foods you eat before they even expire. I also agree on limiting the types of food they will sell/serve and keeping track on reporting of illness if any occur.
Logan C. 64
ReplyDeleteI personally can't see this restaurant going anywhere in the current economical climate. The dangers of expired food far outweigh the potential money that could be saved. Now if the country was in a depression or food was scarce then maybe this store would work out. As it is, the potential for lawsuits and other such situations will collapse this store quickly.
I personally would not buy from this store unless I was in a really bad place. Why buy expired food when you can get better food for only a few dollars more.
Tristen H. 97 in response to Logan C. 64.
DeleteThe whole reason he's coming up with this idea is because he wants to give healthier options to people who are less fortunate. Yes, people wouldn't usually eat brown bananas, but when it's as cheap as a mcdonalds sandwich it becomes a lot more appealing
Meredith J. 96
ReplyDeleteI really think it depends for me with what kind of food there is. Some foods are still good after their expiration date. I usually do not eat expired food at all, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. When those foods become expired, they can have all kids of diseases on them. I personally would not buy or eat anything that is there. It is better to stay safe and not get sick from expired foods.
Shannon P. 90
ReplyDeleteExpired food stores and restaurants are a doomed concept with good intentions. Wasted food is undeniably a very real and growingly severe problem in the United States, especially when comparing to the deteriorating situations of some third world countries. Americans, generally, are a spoiled race and unintentionally take advantage of the luxuries we have. It is instilled in our heads from a young age that after food expires it is no longer up to standard, regardless of whether or not it poses a health risk. The general population is not going to sacrifice the food quality they are accustomed to in order to save a few dollars on their grocery bills. The small minority of people who do count on this small chunk of money at the end of the month are not enough to keep a business alive.
Madeline C. 97 to Shannon P. 90
DeleteHello Shannon! While I completely understand what you are saying, and I actually thought of the same problem myself, I have to disagree. We certainly used to be a spoiled country, only interested in helping ourselves, but I believe that as a society, we are learning to take our health into our own hands. We are not so full of ourselves anymore. Many people would see this as a chance to help reduce the amount of wasted food we have in the States and would be willing to buy at least some of their groceries in such a store. I do admit that if this store fails, it would most likely be due to the fact that people are not willing to sacrifice their food quality, but I for one would like to give them more credit than that.
Shannon P. 90
ReplyDelete@Akeyla R. 97 The main focus in this idea should be in the question of whether or not it is safe for consumers. Eating food after the date the manufacturers/distributers advise is an unnecessary risk in which the benefits do not outweigh the negatives. Thanks for your post.
Simone S. 97
DeleteShannon you are so right. I too believe it's an unnecessary risk but I think others believe that too much food and resources are being wasted and that is more important.
Ada Ohanu Online 97
ReplyDeleteI believe that this could be a good idea also mixed in with a bad idea. This is a good idea because the amount of food would not be wasted instead it would be being fed to people and being of use. The more money we can stop wasting the more we can save people, time and money being consumed. The reason it can be a bad idea is because what if the food expired gets people sick? What if it causes food poisoning? All this can lead to lawsuits and closing down of the store. If multiple people complain then suing can be involved and you don't want to be involved in these types of cases. Although overall I do think the idea is all for the good of our country and people; I do believe they should run some tests on the foods first before selling to customers.
Cherish S. 97In response to Zereana C. 97 I agree that there are so many hardworking families and the cost of food keeps rising. Depending on what the food is will determine if I eat it after its expiration date. However, I eat a lot of salads, and fresh produce those are just things I can not make myself eat. Also I would not eat expired meat because it is dangerous to do so. I would rather pay a little more for my groceries than end up with an expensive hospital bill.
DeleteCherish S. 97
ReplyDeleteI think that this concept could work because a lot of people tend to waste food. Most of the time people do not look at dates anyway. There is so many items pulled daily off of shelves that just get thrown away or donated to food banks.
I however would not shop there because I am eating healthy and lets face it there is just somethings you do not want to eat that has an expired date on it such as lettuce. I have to eat fresh foods especially for lettuce, fruits and vegetables.
HCantrell96
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting concept but the idea of eating foods that have pasted the expiration date seems dangerous to me. There are so many bacteria's that could make people sick who are trying to save on their grocery bill. They way I see it is they may save some money, however they will eventually end up spending more on health care after getting sick from eating food that has gone bad.
Cassie S. 97
ReplyDeleteI am all about not wasting food. There are starving people in this world. I try my very best not to waste anything, and I will save that I have eaten stuff that is expired. If it tastes off or smells funny, I do not eat it. There is this one time though that I ate fruit that was expired, and it has made me not eat watermelon much anymore, but that is a different story. I think that this concept will work within reason. There are some things that you do not need to eat when expired, but there are a lot of items that you can. I believe that if the store/restaurant would keep an eye on the product to make sure it is not to bad that it will work. I would shop and eat at the place because I eat expired food all the time. I go back to there are starving people in the world, and we do not need to waste.
Cassie S. 97 in response H Cantrell 96
ReplyDeleteI agree with you to a point. There are some foods that I will not eat past the expiration date, but there are several foods that I will. I am all about not wasting food and saving money. I know that you have the chance of getting sick, but there is also a chance that you won't. My rule of thumb is if it tastes off or smells funny don't eat it. I can personally say that I eat expired food all of the time, and I have not been to the doctor for being sick in a long time.
Valrika L. 90
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a great idea to try to stop wasting food. Also, I think that this idea is a little bit unhealthy. Personally, I never listen to the dates on jars, boxes, or cartons because no one really know when food will expire. You just have to use your busy judgement on weather or not you can still eat the item. If it was time to dispose of the food item, to me it will build your immune system. So I would shop there for little cookies or things in that nature. Plus this store could be affordable for people who cant afford to waste food.
Simone S. 97
ReplyDeleteI think it is a great idea to recycle food but I don't think it would be a very successful. The reason why is because in our culture it is not acceptable to eat food that is old. At a young age we are taught that eating expired food can cause sickness because of the bacteria that grows on the food. Due to this idea being passed on from generation to generation it would hard to accept this new idea. This may not be a problem in other countries that were not raised to be scornful and wasteful though and may also be a successful business.
Callie G. 64
ReplyDeleteThe idea of recycling food to me is a good idea! The world wastes so much food even when ourselves when we are just at home. The only bad part is I know my family does not eat food that has expired, an dim sure we are not the only family that doesn't. When a food is expired we are are expected to think the food is old. Old food gets you sick. I know for a fact my family would not eat or shop from a place that the food is expired. I do wish however there was a way to save and re use the food that has been expired.
Sarah M 97
ReplyDeleteAs a people, i think the best way to eradicate food waste isn't by selling expired grocery. There are better ways to handle food waste in a country rather than selling the product to the people. I think it is a bad idea to come up with. selling of the expired items could cause damage to the health of individual purchasing the items. which i think would be a bigger problem to the country as a whole. I know for a fact that i would not buy nor eat in such a place in order to prevent sickness or diseases.
Ann L. 97
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I think it is a good idea. To my understanding sell-by, best-by or use-by does not mean that particular item is expired. And besides, how many times have we bought stuff with label best-by on without our knowledge? I have many times. This would also depend on what these foods are, if it's dairy stuff like milk I will not. Overall, I would say it's worth it.
Ann L.97 in response to Cassie S. 97
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with you food shouldn't be wasted when there are people dying of hunger. Let people understand that if an item is messed just little bit or a package is missing one or an item is open, does not mean we should throw it away not especially when there is someone out there who can benefit from. So, yes well said Cassie.
Heather P.97. Although I am not accustomed to buying expired foods, I do feel this could be a good concept. I know many people who purchase their bread from this type of store. Sell by and expired dates seem to differ when it comes to a particular product's life giving some leeway for safe consumption. I would hope Rauch would be advised and have the knowledge to know where to draw the line when it comes to one's health. There are many people who have had to make make adjustments in their lifestyle over the years. Unfortunately, less expensive food helps contribute to obesity. It is expensive for some individuals to eat healthy, so I feel Raunch's idea could help some people. I'm not sure if I would eat there at this point, but I'm sure many people would!!
ReplyDeleteMadeline C. 97
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great idea! I am not sure how long this will last or how popular it will be. I suppose it depends on where the store will open up. Opening up in a high poverty area would give the store the best chance it has. There are many people who would be willing to give it a try at least, especially if they don't have enough money to purchase what they need at a regular store. Personally, I would love to shop there. I trust myself to make the decisions about whether a fruit is rotten or not, so really, the only problem would be people not knowing how to judge their produce. I truly hope that this store is successful.
Shane Imhoff 96
ReplyDeleteI do not think this is a good idea. There are expiration dates for a reason. People don't need to be eating food that is expired. For myself I would not eat at a place the served this kind of food. I go out to eat because I want good food!
Shinika B-T 96
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with the idea of eating expired foods. The expiration day is set for a reason and we should not eat expired food. I rely heavily on the expiration date when I purchase food from the store. I don't make the food and I don't trust the food so I would never eat expired food.
Marganette PL 90
ReplyDeleteSelling expired foods may be a good idea for people who do not care about their health. To me expired foods mean foods that are not good to eat. In a country like the United States, I don't think there is any need to sell expired foods. I heard the story of a man who died because he had consumed expired evaporated milk. If they want to avoid wasting foods they can do it many different ways. For example they can reduce the price before the foods are expired so that they can be sold quicker, or open a store to sell foods that are almost expired. People who do not have enough money could take advantage of that, but once the foods are expired, they are garbage.
Tammy C 90
DeleteI totally agree with you. Expired foods equal bad foods in my opinion. This country definitely has the resources available to not have to resort to selling expired foods.When foods are close to expiring they should reduce the price for those who are low income and can afford it. Once the food expires throw it out immediately.
Tristen Harwell 97
ReplyDeleteI think its a good idea. Eating and buying fruits and veggies is better than going out to a fast food place. I like how it's targeted towards the poorer consumer because it gives them a healthier option than eating at a fast food restaurant that would only damage the body. I'd eat there if I came to that place because it is way better than eating processed food that isn't even really food.
Michael L. 97
DeleteMy thoughts exactly! It's a place that's both aimed at those who don't have money to splurge and is generally healthier than fast food joints with processed foods. Not to mention, even slightly spoiled -fresh- foods can end up likely tasting better than most fast food!
Sophia P. 96
ReplyDeleteI think this is a good idea. There is an incredible amount of waste, and there are thousands of people in the U.S. that go hungry. On most foods, the expiration date is a sell by date, and isn't actually close to when the food would expire. Obviously this should be kept to less perishable items, I don't think using dairy or meat products is a great idea. But besides that, I think in the right hands this could be a great idea. I'm not sure how successful this would be in certain areas, you would have to market it to a more open-minded clientele/area.
I do agree with you Sophia, I think it's a great idea, the amount of money that goes into food waste, is way too much to even be real, with all of the starving people in this world you would think that it would be less. I am not too fond of ALL foods being sold i.e as you said dairy or meat products, but if in the restaurant they can use it to where it does not harm the body, I say go for it ! As stated in my comment, I'm not too sure if I would buy the groceries, but I would definitely eat at the restaurant.
DeleteMichael L. 97
ReplyDeletePersonally I think it's an excellent idea, making all sorts of food more available for those who typically can't afford all the fresh (ish) fruits and vegetables for their families. I've never really understood why some of the most unhealthy foods are more expensive than some of the more healthy ones... When I use to work at a grocery store as a teen I would always try to buy something small for lunch - I ended up settling on a doughnut because a 60-70 cent doughnut was cheaper than spending $1.10 for an apple. Of course after working there for a long while I ended up changing my mind and opting for the apple in the end, but the fact that I did it for a long time simply because the junk food was cheaper... Eh...
The mindset that eating healthy is more expensive has got to hit the back burner. In some cases, yes, junk food is cheaper than say an organic food item. But, not always. I'm a 'mean' mom (I don't keep junk in my house), but when I'm at the grocery store, I still walk down the isles and look at the stuff. Cookies, crackers and candies are expensive! Fast food, in my opinion, is expensive! So for example, a can of black beans is under a dollar, and very healthy. Strawberries when in season can be on sale two packs for four dollars. I think what people need to understand is that not one is more expensive than the other if you know how to shop and think outside of the box of what you know to be healthy. There are so many options when you get creative.
DeleteI definitely think this concept will work and is a great idea! Most foods have a shelf life MUCH longer than what is stamped on their can or date given to eat by. It's my philosphy that if there's no mold and it doesn't stink - eat it! And as food prices rise, this is a good way for people to still get some sort of cheap nutrition without having to turn to fast foods and junk foods. A lot of people want to eat healthy and just cannot afford it. A bag of apples cost 3x what a hamburger would..something is seriously wrong with that picture to me.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely eat at a restaraunt and buy from a grocery store that sold expired foods. Just use common sense when purchasing it. If there is mold, it smells or looks funny, then don't get it. I'm a juicing kick anyway, so this would be super helpful!
In repsonse to Michele Smith 96
ReplyDeleteThat's where common sense would come into play. If sometimes seems off about it, don't eat it. I doubt they would sell items that are damaged or look yucky. But what about an apple that's shiny, firm, and has no bruises but has been sitting for a few days past the sell-by date? Just throw it out even though it's perfectly fine? That's very wasteful and that's why we places like this ARE popping up. "Waste not, want not"
I guess I would say that I am hesitant on the idea of eating old food. Being afraid that I could possibly get sick is probably the largest factor in this situation. On the other hand, what makes it any different from eating processed food, you are in some way doing the same damage to your body. I do know that if food, frozen to be exact, has an expiration, if it's still frozen past that date, then it's still edible. So in my opinion, I would not buy groceries that are past the use by or sell by date, but I would be open to eating at the restaurant. If any of that made sense.
ReplyDeleteCourtney R. 97
ReplyDeleteI had mixed feelings about this at first, but after some thought I don't think it's a bad idea. I don't believe that they would sell anything rotten or tainted. Plus, if it is a functioning business, they will have to follow certain guidelines I'm assuming. There is a whole generation of people who are concerned for the environment and who strive for the organic lifestyle. This place would appeal to them, as well as people who are on a very tight budget who would highly benefit from the chance to purchase cheaper fresh produce. I would definitely check it out, but it would not be my regular grocer.
That's what I was thinking. I would be more likely to shop at a grocery store of that type rather than a restaurant. It would definitely be a good resource when money is low.
DeleteI think it might work but I'm not sure. I think the only way I would go to a place that served expired food would be if they were very up-front about the food prep and their standards of general cleanliness. However, I do think it would be pretty well excepted by most people because we do (as Americans) tend to waste more food that any other culture.
ReplyDeleteTiffany W. 96
DeleteI agree with you on the fact that I would also need to know the specifics about the food prep. I would want to know how far out of date we are talking as far as the ingredients go. I do respect these people for trying to come up with an idea to stop wasting as much food.
Dustin S. 90
ReplyDeleteI disagree with opening a store simply to save food that is bad and not worth saving. It's unfortunate that there are people starving but the solution is to keep them healthy and feed them when possible, not feed them food to make them sick which raises the need of medication which only causes more problems. Also, the discounts of buying these expired products surely cannot be large enough to make someone overlook getting sick over it.
Tammy C 90
DeleteI totally agree with you Dustin. They put dates of foods for a reason and if it is expired then it should be thrown out. It is unfortunate that this country wastes so much food but at the same time it isn't worth getting sick or making others sick by selling it. I would never shop there I don't care how cheap it is. My family is more important than that.
Tammy C 90
ReplyDeleteI personally would never shop in a store that sold expired foods. They have dates on them for a reason. When I go grocery shopping I constantly check the expiration date and if it is close to expiring I will not buy it. My families health is the most important and by buying expired foods they will be at a higher risk of getting sick. This technique might work for some, but not for my family. I don't care how much cheaper the foods may be.
Fatmata D 90
DeleteI totally agree with you with the dates on the items. those dates are there for a reason. that reason it so that we don't eat the food and die. If people really want cheap food the can use coupons. but buying expired food is not the way to save money.
Kevon P, 90
ReplyDeleteOpening a restaurant that will only serve expired food seems quite outrageous to me. There is truly a reason why manufactures include the dates on products. I myself have eaten foods that are considered "best by" a certain date after the date, but I would not have intentions on going to a restaurant to eat expired foods. Simply stating, would you go to a grocery store and purchase a good beyond its date? There could be potential health hazards if these goods are consumed, therefore I think its best to not eat them.
Tiffany W. 96
DeleteI agree with you on eating at a restaurant that only serves expired foods. There are certain foods that don't need to be eaten past their sell dates because their could be potential health hazards. I would however purchase certain types of food past its sell by date if I planned on using it soon after I purchased it.
Fatmata D 90
ReplyDeleteThe sound of a person opening up a store that sell expired food it just crazy. I would never buy expired food on purpose, Now I have eaten expired food before but it was no more the two days old and it didn't smell of look bad. A store that would sell expired food might have a lot of health and safety regulations. it could cause a lot of people to get sick. I really think its a bad idea to have a store that sells expired food in general.
Ashley M 90
ReplyDeleteI would consider shopping there. I am very frugal and save money any way I can. Most dates printed on food packages are just guidelines for freshness and have no bearing on the safety of the food. Most consumers are under the false impression that the "use by date" means the food is unsafe after such date. This is not the case.
Tiffany W. 96
ReplyDeleteI believe this might work. The expiration dates on food is actually just their sell by date. This is just their shelf life which is how long the store can legally keep it on the shelf. I have eaten food past its Sell By date several times. On the other hand I don't eat or drink things such eggs, milk or meats past their sell by date.
Andrew F.90
ReplyDeleteI know that there are some people who do not but groceries because they dumpster dive. Now while that idea repulses m, the thought of a store selling the expired food from other stores is fine. It all depends on the type of food we are talking about. Meat?? Heck no!! Canned foods and some veggies? Sure why not. I probably would not eat there but I am sure someone will!
Clayton B.
ReplyDeleteNot really sure if this would even be legal to be honest. The Ramifications from getting people sick would be more then enough to shut them down. Its bad enough that we already risk our health by eating out, now there would be a place that serves food that is out of date? I don't think so. I am sure there would be people who would eat there of course but I think it would be few and far in between.
This is a good idea honestly;however i do not believe it will work. It is a good look on paper,but it real life im not sure anyone will appy it. Anyone who could afford to not expired food wouldn't eat there. This would be a dwelling for most lower middle to low class citizens. And there is a legal problem there also, i dont thimk the government will allow a place to sell a week old beef to people because of the massive amounts of probable lawsuits against the resturant or food companies
ReplyDeletei think this store would be a wrong approach to a big problem. i see a lot of people waste food and this wont case them to fix their bad habits. i think the best way to make people waste less food by inflation. which would people reconsider how they waste food. a good example is milk. i know a lot of families who use milk to the last drop because its getting more expensive. But to answer the question no because recycled groceries might be expired or exposed to the open to long and consumption might make me sick.
ReplyDeleteAmandaB 96 I do not think that stores should open a food store that has expired items on them. Every product has an expectoration date for a reason. The store would be open to the public which many of the families have small children and they could get sick by eating the chicken, or even drinking some milk that was older. Yes the chicken might be cooked, but you just can never tell by the date on the chicken, and for the milk some of it even go goes back before the date on the carton. I would not shop there because not only do I not want to get sick, I would not let any of my other family members in my household to get sick also.
ReplyDelete