Food Store in a strip mall in Ft. Myers, Fla. Blogfinger photo. 2020. (I guess this article isn’t fresh)
By Paul Goldfinger, MD. Editor Blogfinger.net. (“Signs of the Times Department”)
In the past convenience stores offered a minimum amount of ready-to-eat food. Most of their edibles were pre-packaged like bagels or buttered rolls.
But lately such stores have been selling hot foods like pizza, cooked eggs, and certain sandwiches. And now they are promoting “hand crafted fresh subs,” as seen above in Florida .
A Grover I know loves to go the the 7-11 outside the Grove’s entrance. He says that they create good sandwiches for a few dollars. He also enjoys going to the Pathway Market where they have an actual cook on-site making a variety of hot and cold selections. He says that their “fresh” foods are quite good. This Grover has no car, and there are no super markets nearby.
“Fresh” food is dictionary-defined as “food that is not preserved by canning or dehydration or freezing or smoking.” So spoiled food can be considered “fresh?” They also promote “fresh breakfast to go.” What is a “fresh breakfast?”
Maybe they need to say “subs and breakfast made to order.” That way they avoid the confusing “fresh” word. And let the buyer beware.
And since when does one “hand craft” a sandwich? Were they machine made before?
Once again we see abuse of language by businesses trying to turn something ordinary into something extraordinary by the word usage on their signs. So, what do they mean by “fresh?”
Stores like this used to be called “convenience stores,” but now they are “food stores.” But of the “fresh” foods, how are they defining “fresh?”
Memo on the fridge door. Be wary of anything made with mayo. Blogfinger photos.
If they made the potato salad that morning can you call it fresh 8 hours later? 24 hours later? Can they call it “fresh made” if it’s still in the cooler the next day? Are they labeling such items with dates? And what do the dates mean—date prepared? sell by? use by? Discard date after opening?
These stores are just convenience stores with a microwave and a willingness to make sandwiches to order. Can we trust them for freshness? Who is protecting the public?
Wegmans, certainly not a convenience store like 7-11 brings in”fresh” fish daily. They will keep it overnight one night and then dispose of it the next day if it doesn’t sell by the end of that day.
If the fish was caught the day before it arrives on ice, then it is one day old when Wegmans gets it. Maybe they should label their fish as “one day old” or “two days old.”
Their sushi is never kept over-night. And they never say “fresh sushi.” A store like Wegmans is meticulous regarding freshness, but the public needs to be better informed about freshness at all food stores.
Typically when it comes to sea food, unfrozen fish is called “fresh.” And frozen fish when it is defrosted is called “what?” “Defrosted?” Public needs to know. If there are no signs to clarify, ask some questions. Be careful where you buy “fresh” foods.
I heard that Japanese tuna fisherman slice off a piece of sushi grade meat as soon as the fish flops on the deck. I would say that that is definitely “fresh.”
But, for those who have limited funds, disabilities, and no cars, these sorts of food stores provide some appreciated sustenance, so the Township needs to protect such citizens. There is literally a “food chain” when it comes to stores selling food. It’s like healthcare. On top is Mt. Sinai and on the bottom are urgent care facilities.
Some, like Wawa can be trusted, but if you are driving on the Parkway and stop for gas and a snack, take a hard look at the ready-to-eat display inside, usually a few feet from the “rest rooms.”
So since we do not have a clear definition of “fresh” whoever uses that word needs to find something more precise to say. Hopefully the Township is keeping an eye on convenience stores which are self-proclaimed purveyors of “fresh” food.
Blogfinger- very entertaining! You should do standup!
Here’s another example of misuse of language in the food business. I went to a store called Whole Foods. What does that name mean? What are “whole foods?”
The company says, “Whole Foods Market Inc. exclusively sells products free from hydrogenated fats and artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.”
OK, we are left to figure out what the word “whole” means in this context.
They also say, “As the world’s leading natural and organic grocer we’re all about healthy food and a healthy planet.”
I guess that “organic” is well defined, but what about the word “natural?”
And, as far as “healthy food” is concerned, there is more controversy in the “science” of nutrition than in just about any other healthcare concerns. So who are they to own the word “healthy?”
Today I bought a nicely marbled rib-eye steak there. How does that fit into their shtick? I also bought some fabulous rugelach there…hardly natural or healthy.
And finally, I can’t remember the name of that store because it is meaningless with nothing to hang onto our memory neurons. So we are walking in the store, and I said to Eileen: “What’s the name of this store?” I asked her that because there was no place inside the store where you could see its name…truly.
She said, “Whole Foods” and I said what’s the name of the other store whose name I always forget, and she said, “Fresh Market.” Really?
My favorite at Wawa is the sausage, egg and cheese on a croissant for breakfast. Yummy…
And their coffee is always fresh and hot..
I think Wawa is great!!
Tom: Frozen bait is not fresh, even if it is defrosted. But fresh bait, just acquired, is loved by game fish, especially if it is still alive.
At Wawa, their favorite fish is mahi mahi. Serving fish with the same name twice is like bagel bagel—so good they named it twice. And, you need to spell it correctly–only one W.
I am a big fan of Wawa. They are a great company, and I love their subs and the computer that lets you construct a plan for a hand crafted sub. Nothing to worry about Wawa—the Columbia Presbyterian of convenience stores.
When the Wawa opened at Rt 33 and Rt 35, Blogfinger wrote about that several times and got some feedback. Here are some links:
https://wp.me/pqmj2-oqs
Paul, Maybe they say fresh subs and fresh breakfast for clarification and in contrast to the frozen bait which is also for sale.
Have you tried the hoagies at WaWa? They are pretty good but even better is the computer screen to create your own personal sandwich. You have almost total control over every detail. You must try it to fully appreciate but if the choices seem overwhelming then just go with the standard sandwiches.