Do you buy food from the dollar store?

[britfish]

I buy a lot of things from the dollar store but recently our store added the "consumable" area and I wondered if the food is ok.

 

[mbforbes]

I was nervous about this too, but I have now bought some of the frozen items... garlic bread, sweet potato fries, and they have been fine.

 

[Kay1]

Yes, if it's made by a company I know. Sometimes products just don't sell and make it the discount store shelves. Once I bought a lot veggie burger and Big Lots that were just fine but had an odd name that made one think of dog food -Prime something or other.

 

[powellrj]

I know with Dollar Tree stores, there are food items that are made just for Dollar Tree. I know with Big Lots, many times I see items that we discontinued on sale there. The other stores I don't know about. I do know that they get their soft drinks from local vendors too.

 

[leahjade]

I saw on the news to never buy toothpaste from a dollar store even if it's a name brand because it's often made overseas where the ingredients are not regulated.

 

[kidshop]

Only if it is made in the USA, or Canada! I bought the broth in a box that was made in canada and that was fine. I do not buy china food or candy, or anything that goes in your body.

 

[charming23]

I usually only buy name brand candy from there. I just do not trust other items.

 

[prncess674]

I only shop at Dollar Tree, not any of the knock off stores. Not all the items are a bargain, so be sure to compare quantity. I do buy the movie theater size boxes of candy, some packaged cookies and the peppercorns and sea salt grinders.

 

[Judique]

No. There is one about a mile from me, but I usually shop at supermarkets or costco.

 

[My5Mouseketeers]

I saw on the news to never buy toothpaste from a dollar store even if it's a name brand because it's often made overseas where the ingredients are not regulated.

I was going to say the same thing. Some of the toothpastes do not have the American Dental Association - ADA seal of approval. Even if they are made by companies that we buy from in the US (eg Colgate, Crest), because they are not for American stores and do not have to meet our ADA standards.

Makes me very nervous to buy anything that we put into our bodies from a dollar store.

 

[jms920]

What about spices? I always see the displays and have yet to try them.
Are they as potent as grocery store brands?

 

[SandrA9810]

I find spices don't have good quality as the other more expensive brands. Like the flavor just doesn't hold well at all. A little goes a long way for me with the more expensive spice island or mccormick seasonings.

I have seen a lot of name brand stuff. Like Lucerene or Sargento cheeses, but they're usually itty bitty quantities, that don't make it a good buy unless you only need a little one time. Like 2-4oz vs 8oz at the store.

I've also seen name brand products like Reynolds or Ziploc, but the quantity count is so low (10-15 count). But the box is the same size as what you'll see in the grocery store with twice the amount (20-40 count).

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

My fiance used to work for Dollar General and we ate quite a few things from there. Lately they have started to carry more of the name brands though.

From the $1 store, I often buy dry goods and snacks. They don't have a frozen or produce section.

 

[ceemys]

I bought once and the taste just wasn't there. I also noticed, that the ounces were not the same. You might only be paying a dollar, but you are also not getting the same amount.

 

[Colleen27]

We don't have a real dollar store here, but I do shop Dollar General for some things. Their prices tend to be less than grocery store prices but often more than grocery store sales, so they're mainly good for things I happened to run out of, like milk or sugar or tomato paste, or need on too short notice to wait on a sale, like soda/chips for an impromptu sleepover.

 

[daisyduck123]

No, I would never buy anything consumable from a Dollar Store. The only thing I go in there to buy are paper plates and/or mylar balloons for when we have baby/bridal showers at work.

 

[wishesuponastar]

No, I won't buy $ store food. I just don't trust it for some reason....it could not have been handled properly such as having cans of tuna left out in a hot truck for long periods, that sort of thing. Our $ store doesn't have frozen food.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

Mostly candy, chips, noodle soups and other snacky items.

 

[SandrA9810]

They do sell coke a lot cheaper than other places for the 20oz bottle. I think there's 3 freezer/fridge cases in the back of the local one here. I just have no use for tiny quantities. And it's likely it's near the same price at grocery store.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I bought a Duncan Hines cake mix at the Dollar Tree a couple months ago. It was the same price as I'd get it on sale at the grocery store, but I was there and I needed a cake mix. I got home and went to make the cake, and it only made half a cake (1 round cake pan instead of two)!