Do you buy Dollar store food/meats? Do you consider them safe, if not why?

[PollyannaMom]

It's probably fine...but every time I've almost done it, I've wondered why it ended up at the dollar store, come to the conclusion (correctly or incorrectly) that it was stored improperly at some point, and chickened out.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I am guessing it will never be "high quality" stuff, but if the DATE is good, it is probably fine.

 

[Klayfish]

Can't think of what else, but as long as $1 is cheaper than what I'd pay at the grocery store, I'll buy it. Why is everyone so negative about buying food at the dollar store? They have freezers, refrigerators, appropriate delivery trucks, and the foods have "sell-by" dates on them. What's the difference between Dollar Tree and the local mom-n-pop market (or actually, the grocery store)?

Yep, without a doubt. It's mostly a mental perception thing about buying from the dollar store. We don't specifically go grocery shopping there, but when we go for other things I have zero hesitation buying food. Even at the grocery store, we do store brand, look for meats on sale, etc...

I can tell you for a fact that just because you buy name brand meat or organic/grass fed, etc...doesn't necessarily make it any safer. It's more to do with how the meat is handled from packaging to when it's sold, and that can vary regardless of retailer.

 

[1Mouse2RulethemAll]

The dollar tree near me is getting renovated and is getting the freezers added. I would most certainly by food from there before some of the grocery stores near me. (They are scary)

 

[Micca]

Our dollar store even has fresh bread . All with good dates

I hardly ever set foot in a Dollar store until we started taking the grandkids there for a cheap treat (usually a toy or small craft item.) I noticed that they had some brands of bread that I usually find at the grocery store about 300 feet across the parking lot. I picked up a loaf and it was obviously fresh, had the same experience with hamburger buns. I'm wondering if due to the smaller inventory at the Dollar Store they might get deliveries more frequently than the mega mart across the way? Technically this store is a Dollar Tree, I imagine they all run on the same inventory/management system.

 

[ronandannette]

Our dollar stores, including one large chain and many smaller local versions, don’t have groceries like you are describing. Most do have a shelf of canned goods, condiments, pickles and spices. On occasion when I’ve looked at them they are all weird brands from places like India, China and Eastern Europe. No thanks. I’m a stickler for looking at food labels (although our national regulations for it could be better ) and try to buy products processed in Canada as much as possible.

I will grab a package of gum or a chocolate bar (of a common national brand) at the register but honestly, they’re usually cheaper at my regular supermarket. Dollar stores seem like a good deal but often they are no less expensive than big box stores. I also find that nasty, plastic smell somebody mentioned up-thread to be really off-putting.

 

[EscalatorKid]

Places like Dollar Tree, I'll buy prepackaged, shelf-stable candy, cookies, bottled pop, etc. I wouldn't buy fresh food because I don't trust it.

That being said, I don't trust a lot of stuff at Walmart because of the number of perishable, refrigerated or frozen products that I've seen stuffed on shelves, displays, etc. It's not even a once-in-a-while thing, either. I see it every single trip and it disgusts me. And I wonder how many workers or well-meaning folk go by and put that stuff back in the freezer/refrigerated case? I've had food poisoning and don't care to repeat it.

I bought cream cheese there once that I went to use and it was super wet and chunky, like it had frozen and thawed or sat at room temp and then was refrigerated again.

I do buy stuff at Dollar General, especially the milk or cream, and shelf-stable products like chips, drinks, sauces, cereals, etc. It's the closest store to my house and rather than trudge through the Mega-Huge grocery stores or fight through the zillion people in line at Aldi, I'll just make a quick stop instead. I pass two on the way home from work, too, so convenience is a factor.

 

[TeresaBelle]

We buy food from the Dollar Tree. No issues at all. DD especially, since she's a broke college student.. lol She gets most of her snacks there, tortillas to make quesadillas, pasta, sauces, frozen fruit to make smoothies, etc.

 

[cabanafrau]

I've never even seen perishable items in a dollar store, not even something like a houseplant. I'm sure not buying meat or produce at the dollar store even if they did carry it.

 

[aprilgail]

I would never ever buy food at a dollar tree- all the dollar trees I have been in are dirty looking, I will run in for a foil cooking pan sometimes but that is it.

 

[RangerPooh]

I've never purchased frozen foods there but certainly candy, snacks, and seasonings. Generally stick to gift bags, poster boards and envelopes, and the occasional holiday item.

The Dollar Tree offers a (sometimes) cheaper alternative to the grocery store for those on restrictive budgets. I don't think it's fair to judge those who purchase food there are we are unaware of each shoppers circumstances.

 

[cinnaminny]

I bought some candy there for gingerbread houses. It was stale and old lol It was fine for what I needed it for and it prevented me from cheating on my diet. lol

 

[cinnaminny]

I would never ever buy food at a dollar tree- all the dollar trees I have been in are dirty looking, I will run in for a foil cooking pan sometimes but that is it.

I love their gift bags and shirt boxes during the holidays. That is about it. lol

 

[soccerdad72]

I've never even seen perishable items in a dollar store, not even something like a houseplant. I'm sure not buying meat or produce at the dollar store even if they did carry it.

Same here - I guess I need to look closer the next time I'm in one.

 

[scrhsa]

I have bought some name brand or USA brand stuff before but it's really not that economical. I haven't bought anything out of the freezer. I would almost----almost---considerate if I trusted the workers more. It is a high turn around and most of those ladies or young girls have NO desire to be working there or working in general. All I hear is them complaining about hours, manager, stocking etc! I just have the feeling they really don't give a flying leap about what is or stays or is removed from the shelves! There was one lady once, she happened to have a kid at the school I worked at, who was really good but the manager was horrible so she quit! I was sad to see her go. She's a great lady.

 

[1GoldenSun]

I absolutely would buy meats at the Dollar store if they had any meats I wanted to buy. I wish they did.

I never shop at Dollar Tree specifically for food items, usually I'm there for gift bags, birthday or holiday cards, Scotch tape, envelopes, index cards, poster board, and stuff like that. But when I do make my monthly or so run to Dollar Tree to pick up that stuff I may grab a bag of dried beans or split green peas, or anything that appeals to me really. They often have name brand whole wheat bread and hamburger buns, the same kind I buy at Publix, for only a dollar.

I have no qualms about Dollar Tree. Except for medicine. I'd never buy off-brand, non-US-made painkillers or cold medicine. I also wouldn't buy those cheap plastic cups that probably leach all kinds of chemicals into your drink.

 

[willowsnn3]

I love Dollar Tree! I buy a lot of snack type stuff for the grandkids who are at my house after school. Never had a problem with any being expired. Our Dollar Trees are popular so guess they sell out & restock pretty often. I especially buy the lemon or lime juice (concentrated). I drink a lot of seltzer water & use the lemon/lime juice to flavor. I also buy the flavored sugar free coffee syrups. They have a lot of name brand items. I usually stay away from the freezer section & most of the frozen meat items do seem to come from China..., I have bought the frozen pretzels/pretzel bites that are name brand & cheaper than at WMart. Their canned veggies at $1 a can is not a bargain tho, but I have bought name brand diced tomatoes at 2 cans for $1.

Check out some of the Dollar Tree Hauls on You Tube. I love to watch the ones by 'pretty & flawed'. Her Dollar Trees look a lot nicer than mine, lol.

 

[cabanafrau]

I love their gift bags and shirt boxes during the holidays. That is about it. lol

I agree. I did used to go in more when my girls were younger and I was a GS leader, teaching Sunday School and running crafts for VBS. The Dollar Store was a great source for cheap crafting materials for large groups of kids. Now I run in mainly for the cheap tissue paper for gift bags or the shredded tissue. It's even been quite a while since I've been able to find a presentable gift bag in there. It's part of the reason I've started picking up a few baskets from Goodwill or estate sales. I use those instead of bags quite a bit now.

 

[luvsJack]

I don't because its usually not cheaper when you figure the price per ounce or pound or whatever. I have a friend that does, she also buys at salvage grocery stores because its what she can afford. Her budget is tight and she needs to buy food for just this week and as cheap as she can. So $1.00 for 6 oz of ground beef, $1.00 for sauce and $1.00 for pasta is great for her. There is nothing wrong with the food. If you buy something from there that is ruined or not what its supposed to be--take it back. There aren't different food storage rules for the dollar store than there are for any other grocery store or Walmart.

I haven't noticed it for Dollar Tree but at Dollar General some products are packaged just for them so you can find that little box of Captain Crunch for $1 or a smaller pack of Oreos or whatever.

 

[mrodgers]

What kind of "dollar store" are we talking? Dollar General I don't consider the dollar store, but many do. Dollar Tree is the dollar store.

I haven't seen anything food related at the dollar stores that are cheaper than Walmart. Everything is less than half the size for a little more than half the cost. My mother is one that thinks just because it's $1, it's cheap. I can't explain to her well enough that something that is 1.5 ounces for $1 is more expensive than the same at Walmart that is 3.2 ounces for $1.98. All she can see is that $1 is less than $1.98.