bulk bin items in the store vs natural food stores

[annieH]

I have been wondering for some time about this....
I use alot of flax seed and i see it sold in the bulk bins in the grocery store for alot less than the heath food stores. i also see things like garbanzo beans and other things for sprouting for alot less money.

what do you think about this... does anyone buy with confidence from the grocery store bulk bins? or is there reason to be wary of them?

my store seems to be very busy so i think the turnover is ok. i dont know.... it would be great to buy from them as they are so close and alot cheaper...but i dont want to sacrifice quality. what do you think? thanks

[Revvell]

Are they organic? Other than that, can't say as I don't shop regular chain stores. *shrugs* Now that I think of it, don't even go into them anymore.

Revvell

[rawpriestess]

If they are for sprouting then they are raw.

They are probably NOT organic, unless they are labeled that.

The only thing that I have noticed in a conventional super market vs a health food store, is that in a super market kids seem to be un-supervised, and will put their nasty little fingers in the bulk bins.

Where in health food stores, the parents appear to actually like their children and try to pay attention to them.

Of course, this is just my observation.

[annieH]

fingers in the bulk bins.....AH! you do make a good point... i never thought about that. yes... when you are raw thats very important. i will continue to shop at the natural foods store.... GOOD POINT! thanks RP !

[rawpriestess]

You are welcome,

It's just been my personal observation that is a Grocery type store, that the children tend to run wild, with no supervision, and the bulk bins are nice and low, just perfect kid height, sometimes they have nuts in them, perfect kid pickins

Anyway, just thought I'd through that in, and being RAW it does make a difference.

I know eeeeewwwwweeee!

[Revvell]

I don't know about you yet, I usually rinse my food ~ especially if I'm sprouting then it gets rinsed MANY times ~ so this is not much of a point and I've seen children put their hands in everywhere they can ~ "health" food store and otherwise. Point is, are they organic? Probably not in a regular market yet, as I say, I've not been in one in ages.

If, at this time, organic is not important to you, then just make sure "raw" is on the label. If you are looking to sprout, then I would definitely look at organic ~ that way you KNOW it's alive, not GMO'd ~ and filled with vitality.

Revvell


fingers in the bulk bins.....AH! you do make a good point... i never thought about that. yes... when you are raw thats very important. i will continue to shop at the natural foods store.... GOOD POINT! thanks RP !

[sailaway]

Alot of the stores now have bulk bins that are enclosed, you slip a bag under and lift the handle to fill the amount you need. I have bought somethings from the regular store but mostly from an organic co-op store or Whole Foods or Trader Joes etc. I also rinse my things before sprounting or using anyway.

[annieH]

i guess what i am really asking about is the quality of the product vs the natural foods store. a safeway vs a whole foods or trader joes. I trust everything i get at whole foods....unfortunately i dont have one near me...thank goodness i have a trader joes.
i was mainly talking about common supermarkets vs something like whole foods.
the local super near me has alot of things so much cheaper and i wonder if it is the quality of some place like whole foods. for instance flax seeds..... they are half the price at the supermarket as they are at the local natural foods store. so... is that becuse the quality is not as good... or because they can buy in such quanity?

i dont know. i use so much flax..... i might give them a try.... save a few dollars.

[rawpriestess]

Why not ask the person who handles the bulk bins, to see the packaging, They may very well come from the same place as the ones from Whole foods.

I would highly doubt that they are organic, but the only way to know would be to see the packaging.

Also, just buy a little of each, try them, and see which ones you like the taste of best.