Is it just me? Raw meat at the grocery store

[SEA333]

I was at the grocery store today and the cashier started to put a package of raw meat in the same bag with yogurt and other fresh packaged foods that do not need to be cooked.

I have gotten home before and found meat put in the same bag as lettuce, fruit, veggies, etc. then have to throw it out. I usually put the meat on the conveyor belt last so that the cashier or bagger will automatically bag it all together, but if there is still room in a bag, they just throw it all in together.

So, today, I see the cashier start to do this, and I stopped her with a "oh, can you please bag that separately?"

Her response"Sure. No PROBLEM." (sarcastically)

Me: "Can you tell me what your store policy is when bagging raw meat with fresh food that won't be cooked?"

Her: "Only when a customer is being picky. Not everyone cares."

Me (still trying to be cordial): "Hmm. That's weird. I would think that a grocery store would be aware of cross-contamination so that people don't get sick."

Her: "Not when the meat is wrapped in plastic like that one is. All of the bacteria is contained - it won't get on the food. Some of our customers get mad when we don't bag stuff together, and some, like YOURSELF, get mad when we do. So I just do what I am told."

At that point I wasn't going to continue arguing, but said to myself that I would either use the self-checkout (that is ALWAYS breaking!) or shop somewhere else for now on.

Worst thing was....her tag said "Customer Service Manager".

So...is it just me that is grossed out by the thought of raw meat being bagged with yogurt and stuff, or is this seriously NOT a policy that most stores adhere to...or at least attempt to train?

ETA: A lot of people are mentioning bagging myself next time - I cannot answer each one, so here goes: This particular store is not set up for that, or else I would have. The item goes from the cashier's hand straight to the bag on the bag carousel. I prefer it and would rather do it myself if possible, and do 100% the time in other stores.

 

[scrapquitler]

My store has plastic produce bags in the meat department so that you can put your packages of meat in those if you wish. That's good enough for me.

 

[SEA333]

I'll have to look for those - not sure I've ever seen them.

 

[kamik86]

The stores around us are AWFUL on food safety. They have the same attitude as the one you saw I'm surprised yoru just now noticing.

I also don't know why they don't realize that those plastic things leak alot...

I honestly wish every store in my area would just fire all the baggers. My husband or I will bag our own groceries and the following occurs:
1) The bagging is done faster
2) No cross contamination problems like having raw produce in the same bag as meat from the butcher shop (which isn't in plastic, it was wrapped by the guy that just picked up the meat)

Bonus is the bags are also organized to make them easier to put away (bag of freezer stuff, bag of pantry stuff, bag of fridge stuff, etc)

 

[mtemm]

I usually use the plastic bags in the meat dept and also have the cashier bag the meat in plastic instead of my reusable shopping bags. I usually put the meat on belt first and just tell the cashier my preference right away.

I absolutely believe the cashier when she says she just does whatever the customer prefers because even as a customer I have heard people request bagging together/fewer bags, and those like me who separate. Doesn't bother me what others do.

 

[morgan98]

My grocery stores always ask if I want the meat separate and I have always said no and have never had a food contamination issue that I am aware of.

When I purchase meat, I always check, check and double check that I am not buying a nasty leaky package or one that looks like it has been mishandled. I do want clod things with cold things and I generally put the meat near other things that are packaged like cheeses, milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. so they do get bagged together.

I have to agree with her about this being an issue on which people are divided.

 

[kirbydog48]

I always bring my bags, and my market always asks if I'd like the meat bagged separately in plastic. Great customer service!

 

[Miskey]

I was at the grocery store today and the cashier started to put a package of raw meat in the same bag with yogurt and other fresh packaged foods that do not need to be cooked.

I have gotten home before and found meat put in the same bag as lettuce, fruit, veggies, etc. then have to throw it out. I usually put the meat on the conveyor belt last so that the cashier or bagger will automatically bag it all together, but if there is still room in a bag, they just throw it all in together.

So, today, I see the cashier start to do this, and I stopped her with a "oh, can you please bag that separately?"

Her response"Sure. No PROBLEM." (sarcastically)

Me: "Can you tell me what your store policy is when bagging raw meat with fresh food that won't be cooked?"

Her: "Only when a customer is being picky. Not everyone cares."

Me (still trying to be cordial): "Hmm. That's weird. I would think that a grocery store would be aware of cross-contamination so that people don't get sick."

Her: "Not when the meat is wrapped in plastic like that one is. All of the bacteria is contained - it won't get on the food. Some of our customers get mad when we don't bag stuff together, and some, like YOURSELF, get mad when we do. So I just do what I am told."

At that point I wasn't going to continue arguing, but said to myself that I would either use the self-checkout (that is ALWAYS breaking!) or shop somewhere else for now on.

Worst thing was....her tag said "Customer Service Manager".

So...is it just me that is grossed out by the thought of raw meat being bagged with yogurt and stuff, or is this seriously NOT a policy that most stores adhere to...or at least attempt to train?

I hate my meat to be in bag with anything else. I put the meat on the conveyor first, followed by refrigerated items, then bag them myself as the cashier is ringing up the rest of the groceries

 

[Mizzoufan]

It's not a big deal to me. If it did bother me I would simple take the meat and put in another bag.

 

[Allison]

My store is very good about packing meat separately, thank goodness.

 

[SEA333]

The stores around us are AWFUL on food safety. They have the same attitude as the one you saw I'm surprised yoru just now noticing.

I also don't know why they don't realize that those plastic things leak alot...

I honestly wish every store in my area would just fire all the baggers. My husband or I will bag our own groceries and the following occurs:
1) The bagging is done faster
2) No cross contamination problems like having raw produce in the same bag as meat from the butcher shop (which isn't in plastic, it was wrapped by the guy that just picked up the meat)

Bonus is the bags are also organized to make them easier to put away (bag of freezer stuff, bag of pantry stuff, bag of fridge stuff, etc)

Agreed!!

I always bag my own groceries when possible, and group things together on the belt according to how I want to unpack them.

In this store, though, the cashier stands next to that spinning bag thing where she scans and immediately puts the item into a bag. There is nowhere for me to help bag - it literally goes straight from her hand to a bag.

Oh well...guess I will just have to keep on watching.

 

[fly girl]

I don't like it either. Almost always (unless new bagger) they put individual meat in a seperate bag all alone. I have had them place chicken and ground beef in same bag and I don't like that as well.


My true pet peeve comes with food and cleaning supplies. I don't want my Clorox next to my food! I try my best to put items on the belt in bagging order.


Most times, my local grocery stores get it right. It's usually the new young kids that don't get it. As I worked as a cashier back in high school I understand -- at first I was clueless too. 16 year olds don't know. However, the snarky one OP had was out of line. No need to be sarcastic.


And we have the plastic produce bags by the meat too, along with big jugs of gel hand sanitizer (that, I love!)

 

[SEA333]

I usually use the plastic bags in the meat dept and also have the cashier bag the meat in plastic instead of my reusable shopping bags. I usually put the meat on belt first and just tell the cashier my preference right away.

I absolutely believe the cashier when she says she just does whatever the customer prefers because even as a customer I have heard people request bagging together/fewer bags, and those like me who separate. Doesn't bother me what others do.

Haha...doesn't bother me either, as long as I'm not eating dinner at their house that night!

Maybe I have it backward and should start putting the meat on the conveyor first instead of last.

Thanks!

 

[Allison]

Just checked with a relative who works at our store-they are trained that raw meat is bagged separately from the rest of the groceries.

 

[Flight]

I prefer to bag myself. In fact, all able bodied individuals should bag themselves if the particular market is set up to allow shoppers to bag the groceries.

Here is a thought. How sanitary do you think the bottom of your shopping cart is after numerous shoppers placed their leaking packages of meat in with all the other groceries.

 

[Tozzie]

I was at the grocery store today and the cashier started to put a package of raw meat in the same bag with yogurt and other fresh packaged foods that do not need to be cooked.

I have gotten home before and found meat put in the same bag as lettuce, fruit, veggies, etc. then have to throw it out. I usually put the meat on the conveyor belt last so that the cashier or bagger will automatically bag it all together, but if there is still room in a bag, they just throw it all in together.

So, today, I see the cashier start to do this, and I stopped her with a "oh, can you please bag that separately?"

Her response"Sure. No PROBLEM." (sarcastically)

Me: "Can you tell me what your store policy is when bagging raw meat with fresh food that won't be cooked?"

Her: "Only when a customer is being picky. Not everyone cares."

Me (still trying to be cordial): "Hmm. That's weird. I would think that a grocery store would be aware of cross-contamination so that people don't get sick."

Her: "Not when the meat is wrapped in plastic like that one is. All of the bacteria is contained - it won't get on the food. Some of our customers get mad when we don't bag stuff together, and some, like YOURSELF, get mad when we do. So I just do what I am told."

At that point I wasn't going to continue arguing, but said to myself that I would either use the self-checkout (that is ALWAYS breaking!) or shop somewhere else for now on.

Worst thing was....her tag said "Customer Service Manager".

So...is it just me that is grossed out by the thought of raw meat being bagged with yogurt and stuff, or is this seriously NOT a policy that most stores adhere to...or at least attempt to train?

While i agree that I dont' pack meat with other food items, I think you went beyond oveboard asking what a store policy was regarding baggingg groceries. i have never know a store to have one and think the question was rediculous. Just say you dont' want them together or better yet bag them yourself if the store checkout lines are set up for that.

 

[SEA333]

While i agree that I dont' pack meat with other food items, I think you went beyond oveboard asking what a store policy was regarding baggingg groceries. i have never know a store to have one and think the question was rediculous. Just say you dont' want them together or better yet bag them yourself if the store checkout lines are set up for that.

Agreed if it was a kid bagging, but I was asking the Customer Service Manager. That is going "beyond" overboard???!! I'm frankly surprised that you think that grocery stores do not have this policy....I worked at Target for a very short while once many years ago and it was drilled into the cashiers. But you are surprised that a grocery store might have the same policy? Is it *that* outside the realm of possibility, that asking about it is going "beyond overboard"?

Ok (shrug). We can disagree that it was a ridiculous question to ask the Customer Service Manager. And, honestly, I probably wouldn't have asked if she would have just bagged the meat without the attitude. So, I will own that. Fair enough.

And, as per my previous post, the store was NOT set up for me to bag, which I ALWAYS do when possible and frankly prefer to do myself.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[U2_rocks!]

Can't say it bothers me either way. Yogurt, cheese, fruit, veggies etc. are in their own containers/wrappings already, so the meat "juice" isn't going to get on the other food. And anyway, I do wash fruit and veg before eating it. I care more about the juice getting on my hands (which it always seems to).

 

[cabanafrau]

The only meat I buy at the grocery store is at a small, independent market near our house and they always put meat in a bag by itself. Occasionally they put that bag into the bag with other merchandise, but they've always bagged it separately, even though I already put it in a plastic bag at the meat counter. They do the same thing if I buy a box of fabric softener sheets or a cleaning product, always isolated so it won't spoil the other merchandise.

OP, sounds like you dealt with a burned out manager with a bad attitude, possibly because she was covering for a cashier shortage. I group my items on the belt according to how I'd like them bagged. I always put the heavier items first, things like bread last.

 

[pryncess527]

My store always asks if I want meat in a separate bag, but I always say no. It's in a plastic bag, wrapped in butcher paper, so cross contamination has never struck me as an issue. I've also never come home to find that my meat has leaked on other products.