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Sausage Recipes of the Month
There is no reader question this week. Helena has a topic she’d like to address.
If you’re like me, you always feel pleasantly smug when you’re at the grocery store and you pull out your reusable cloth bags. But the groceries you put in those bags still feature a lot of wasteful packaging. So why not go one step further and bring your own jars and produce bags too? Before you do, however, you should know that there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it. Here are some pointers:
Use the Right Containers
Catherine Conway is the owner of the London store Unpackaged, which sells bulk foods exclusively. Customers bring all kinds of containers, she says, “including Chinese takeaway cartons, Ziploc bags, even a used envelope.” But if you’re shopping at regular grocery stores, the guy behind the deli counter is more likely to fill up your container if it’s clean and sturdy. Here are some options that are durable and easy to clean.
Mesh bags for produce: They’re cheap and can go in the laundry. You may already wash and reuse plastic produce bags, but they look unsightly draped around the kitchen and take forever to dry.
Cloth bags for dry bulk items: Bea Johnson, author of the blog the Zero Waste Home, made hers from old sheets, but you can also buy them. You’ll need a large one for bread.
Glass jars and bottles for wet items: These are for foods like meat, fish, cheese, honey, and peanut butter, and for liquids like vinegar and oil. “Get a supply of glass canning jars in different sizes from the hardware store,” recommends Myscha Theriault, coauthor of 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget.
Weigh Your Jars First
There are typically three places in a grocery store where you can get bulk food: the bins of dry foods such as flour and nuts, the produce department, and the meat, cheese, and deli counters. You’ll have to ask the staff to weigh your jars first, so you can tell the person at the checkout counter how much the jars weigh without anything in them (this is called the tare weight). In some stores, you can also have this done at the customer service desk, says Johnson.
Brazen It Out
Be prepared to talk to the manager if the person at the deli counter refuses to fill your jar with ham. Then act blasé, says Johnson, while subtly threatening to defect to the competition. “At [one store], I showed up with my jar and they had to go to the manager and ask if it was OK. I said, ‘Look, I do it all the time at Whole Foods.’”
As more shoppers begin bringing bulk containers to stores, retailers and producers will take notice. In the future, we may see a growing number of foods—like butter, for instance—offered in reusable glass containers. Until then, you can revel in the rush of ecosmugness you will feel by creating no extra waste at the grocery store. Even if other shoppers do think you’re a little eccentric.
Just to add to the fray-- Beth Terry has a nice site about how she actually carries her own containers... and avoids plastic at all cost.
http://fakeplasticfish.com/2010/02/carrying-our-own-containers-powerful-action-or-pointless-inconvenience/
Also -- these "ripped from the small headlines of other places" type articles are getting stale...
My parents were living in Iran back in the early 70s (Shah era) and back then, you bought your yogurt and tatziki equivalent by weight from the yogurt guy. And you brought your own plastic bowl and he'd scoop your yogurt into it, weigh it, and add some cling film on top. Nobody died, nobody got sick. So, perhaps we're too uptight in North America?
This won't "save the earth". It will just make you look like an eccentric obsessive. I recycle, yes, but your time will be better used writing your representatives to request alternatives to fossil fuel, etc., than this.
Re-usable shopping bags and mesh bags for produce are one thing, but jars from home? How does the merchant know that the jar is sterile? Does the container provider assume the risk? I understand the why, but don't think it works...yet.
Yes, make more work for people working for minimum wage! There's no letters because this column is feeble.
The solution is so simple I can't believe no-one else has said it. At home we all do it: save old plastic lidded containers from sour cream or whatever to put leftovers in: Grocery stores need their own standardized containers that you take home, use and return to be STERILIZED. Get ready to pay for it though, it would take floor-space, equipment and man-hours. AND, if the consumer insists on...+READ
The solution is so simple I can't believe no-one else has said it. At home we all do it: save old plastic lidded containers from sour cream or whatever to put leftovers in: Grocery stores need their own standardized containers that you take home, use and return to be STERILIZED. Get ready to pay for it though, it would take floor-space, equipment and man-hours. AND, if the consumer insists on having this service, they will also PAY for it, plus give the store it's profit margin on said service. That being said, this will not happen in a common grocery store as food companies will not sacrifice their branding. This would require a company who not only markets food, but buys the product in bulk to market unlabled - or with the store label - to you. That's a huge commmitment from seller and buyer. We're pretty spoiled on "picking out' our brands. You'd need a large eco-friendly population to pull this off. Could work in California, but it won't fly in middle America.
(can you tell I'm in marketing? ha)-COLLAPSE
I also reuse bags and containers but feel there should be a santiation method for stores to do the same.
Nancee J. Swartz
Brookline, MA.
My hat's off to everyone who is sincerely trying to make a difference in whatever way they can. Having said that, I believe that there's a time and a place for everything. The grocery store is neither for folks wishing to resuse containers, or having the expectation of being able to do so. If you were to consider Fresh and Easy as an extreme example of timing and location, it's actually kind of...+READ
My hat's off to everyone who is sincerely trying to make a difference in whatever way they can. Having said that, I believe that there's a time and a place for everything. The grocery store is neither for folks wishing to resuse containers, or having the expectation of being able to do so. If you were to consider Fresh and Easy as an extreme example of timing and location, it's actually kind of funny when you think about someone attempting it there. On the other hand, Farmers Markets, CSA's, etc, I think would be the ideal place to BYOC (Bring Your Own Container).-COLLAPSE
there was a time when things like orange juice and such were sold in refillable containers. then for the sake of convenience everyone switch to disposables. I think it is time we rethought the way things are packaged for consumption.
None of the stores here will allow this, (as someone else pointed out, per health department regs), so for me it's a moot point anyway. I'm not certain I endorse doing this anyway. I reuse the deli bags and plastic containers at home, but I trust my own sanitation. I don't trust anyone elses. (And, nobody else should trust mine, that's just the way it is.)
I like this article. Or, at least, the discussion it has initiated. And I think I get the difference between pleasantly smug and grossly smug.
The so-called order of environmental consumerism is rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle. In that order. That is a reason making packaging out of recycled products isn't a solution for me. Its a last resort. Recycling is still a hog on resources. Bulk with...+READ
I like this article. Or, at least, the discussion it has initiated. And I think I get the difference between pleasantly smug and grossly smug.
The so-called order of environmental consumerism is rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle. In that order. That is a reason making packaging out of recycled products isn't a solution for me. Its a last resort. Recycling is still a hog on resources. Bulk with re-used containers is definitely a superior option from an environmental aspect.
And okay, perhaps "pleasantly smug" is not themost effective phrase? Or maybe it is? Or maybe it doesn't matter? I do feel SOMETHING when I'm food shopping in a thoughtful way at a thoughtful place. Solidarity, encouragement, pride, I don't know. Maybe it is smugness? Everyone must eat, ergo, the way we chose to eat and procure that food along the chain DOES matter. It doesn't justify a "narcissistic ego-boost" but there is a satisfaction associated with chosing a path that you consider is more "right" even if it takes more effort. I'm not really sure what to call it. Contentment with one's personal decisions and non-acceptance of an unsustainable system? "Pleasantly smug" still sounds a little gross, but also a little accurate, and also not that big of a deal.-COLLAPSE
I see one problem with re-using or bringing containers from home: the local health department. In my county, the health department prohibits us from filling packaging brought in by customers. Why? Because frankly, the jars, bags, wrappers, etc. brought in by customers are not sanitized. If I touch the customers' items and then touch my food utensils, food, etc. to them, then my items are tainted....+READ
I see one problem with re-using or bringing containers from home: the local health department. In my county, the health department prohibits us from filling packaging brought in by customers. Why? Because frankly, the jars, bags, wrappers, etc. brought in by customers are not sanitized. If I touch the customers' items and then touch my food utensils, food, etc. to them, then my items are tainted. The local health department here has already ruled on this, and I am not going to bend those rules, sorry.-COLLAPSE
Wait; where's the faux pas? The envelope?
My grocery store has a sign that you can't use your own containers while shopping. I think it's because it looks like shoplifting - putting food into your own bag before you pay for it.
I usually just toss all my produce into a small canvas bag that I've brought along for the purpose, but this is getting harder with the move towards self-check out gizmos that you carry around with you, because you have to weight and sticker everything as you go. I generally end up having to get one "sacrificial" plastic bag that I can stick all the stickers to, so I can scan them and show them...+READ
I usually just toss all my produce into a small canvas bag that I've brought along for the purpose, but this is getting harder with the move towards self-check out gizmos that you carry around with you, because you have to weight and sticker everything as you go. I generally end up having to get one "sacrificial" plastic bag that I can stick all the stickers to, so I can scan them and show them and let employees re-scan them if things go awry... (I guess I could just put them on my arm, or bring a piece of recycled mail or something?)-COLLAPSE
Environmentallism and being "green" is out of control. The best way to save the Earth is to put it in a pot,.
i re-use all of those bulk olive containers and bags but didn't think to take them back to the store for refills. This is a good article as many people like me can take this one step further.
i'd say do what makes sense to you, bring bags, don't buy excessive packaged foods. it is an act of responsibility and no one needs to feel smug about it. although ham in the jar is wierd, it doesn't sound...+READ
i re-use all of those bulk olive containers and bags but didn't think to take them back to the store for refills. This is a good article as many people like me can take this one step further.
i'd say do what makes sense to you, bring bags, don't buy excessive packaged foods. it is an act of responsibility and no one needs to feel smug about it. although ham in the jar is wierd, it doesn't sound like a health issue.-COLLAPSE
It's easy to recycle mesh the mesh bags from onions and potatoes into your own all-produce mesh bags. Those onion bags can also be used for machine-laundering small and delicate items, and to make your own pot scrubbers.
I'm sorry, but if actions that are environmentally responsable make you feel "pleasantly smug" then you don't deserve to be a mouthpiece for enviornmental responsibility.
I think this is a nice post. I often have extra bags laying around from previous veggie shopping, or the old containers from the last time I got bulk foods. Why not bring them back to the store? It's not a matter of being "too busy", it's a matter of just remembering to bring them back. Does filling your own jar take more time than filling the stores? Nope. It's not eccentric, and I don't doubt...+READ
I think this is a nice post. I often have extra bags laying around from previous veggie shopping, or the old containers from the last time I got bulk foods. Why not bring them back to the store? It's not a matter of being "too busy", it's a matter of just remembering to bring them back. Does filling your own jar take more time than filling the stores? Nope. It's not eccentric, and I don't doubt this will become more common.-COLLAPSE
@vorpal, Akitist: I detect a tongue planted firmly in cheek on this one. I think she's making a subtle point that mesh bags are great, jars for bulk honey and oil are great, but putting ham in a jar? Ridiculous, and certain shoppers being dogmatic about it make the whole experience more difficult for all concerned.
She could sex it up with mention of growler bottles to refill with copious...+READ
@vorpal, Akitist: I detect a tongue planted firmly in cheek on this one. I think she's making a subtle point that mesh bags are great, jars for bulk honey and oil are great, but putting ham in a jar? Ridiculous, and certain shoppers being dogmatic about it make the whole experience more difficult for all concerned.
She could sex it up with mention of growler bottles to refill with copious quantities of beer at the local microbrewery.-COLLAPSE
Just curious, does Helena advise partygoers to bring their own glass bottles to fill up once they begin ransacking the host's house for the hidden booze stash? I mean, in a previous column she endorsed searching the house for more alcohol if the party runs dry, but you might as well be environmental about it, right?
In the bulk aisle I just use the plastic or paper bags they provide. There is very little waste in that. The plastic containers at the prepared food counter I guess are more wasteful, but they are reusable and if you bring them back it will be very easy to tare since they are the store's containers.
For the 2nd time in 2 weeks, this seems more a question of practicality in ethics than etiquette per se, and a yawn-inducing one at that. C'mon, let's sex it up here!
Kinda what Vorpal said. There must be better ways to attack the problem. This more than borders on the eccentric.
I can't understand the bit about weighing jars so you can tell the checkout what they weigh, though. The department can just do a tare weight, then re-weigh with the goodies and slap on a label reflecting the new weight (and price) per a scannable bar code. Do you trust a checkout...+READ
Kinda what Vorpal said. There must be better ways to attack the problem. This more than borders on the eccentric.
I can't understand the bit about weighing jars so you can tell the checkout what they weigh, though. The department can just do a tare weight, then re-weigh with the goodies and slap on a label reflecting the new weight (and price) per a scannable bar code. Do you trust a checkout clerk to get the 'rithmetic on this transaction right? Do chickens have lips?-COLLAPSE
While I certainly applaud the use of reusable containers, this post made me a little sick to read.
Sorry, Helena: for me, grocery shopping is about purchasing the ingredients I need to cook and live. It's not a means to a self-righteous narcissistic ego-boost.
I was wondering how to get out of having to pay for my jar, too. I can see that causing a ruckus at checkout until some sort of database has been put together by the store or whoever. Canning jars aren't light.
Seriously? I barely have enough time to whiz down the aisles when I'm shopping, why would I make more trouble for myself and make my shopping trip take twice as long? I think the solution would be to package all foods in packaging made out of recycled products, and then recycle them yourself when you're done. I re-use my glass and sturdy plastic containers all the time at home, but I'm certainly...+READ
Seriously? I barely have enough time to whiz down the aisles when I'm shopping, why would I make more trouble for myself and make my shopping trip take twice as long? I think the solution would be to package all foods in packaging made out of recycled products, and then recycle them yourself when you're done. I re-use my glass and sturdy plastic containers all the time at home, but I'm certainly not going to lug bags of them to the grocery store to fill them back up.-COLLAPSE