Surprise at Oliver's Market

[Claire]

Since I've been in the Cotati area (about a year) I've been relegated to shopping at Oliver's Market more often than I have wished and more often than my budget can support. It's the only large grocery store in town. Aside from all the over-priced goods, there is a fair amount of organic and healthy food offered. Never mind that the $8 special crackers I splurged on for my Spanish sister-in-law are available everywhere else for $5 (now I know). Never mind the fact that countless times I've walked out of there feeling overcharged for my puny little bag of groceries.

Here is my real gripe: I bought some of their ready made hummus (Oliver's brand) served it to guests, then looked at the label. For the very first time in my life I saw 3 ingredients in a hummus that have absolutely no business there. Did you ever think our dear Oliver's would put High Fructose Corn Syrup, sugar and maltodextrin in a supposed healthy product??. Well they do. I have not gone back since to check their other products.

I almost always make my own hummus, have for decades, and I can tell you those ingredients have no business in that food. There is some very compelling info about HFCS and how it is destroying our health. Sugar in hummus?? Give me a break. Maltodextrin? It's one of the most commonly used excito-toxins (think MSG). So few people seem to know about excito-toxins yet. Inform yourselves. These are brain killers and are found under every form of nomenclature to mask the reality, like simply Natural Flavors. Their purpose is to trick the taste buds into believing that something tastes really, really yummy. Recognize that? You get a bag of flavored chips or frozen pizza and you are eating it like crazy, but if you slow down and really taste, you wonder what's going on. It's not all that good, but you're eating it like you're starving! In the meantime, it's killing our braincells. We can thank our FDA for allowing the food industry to mask the MSG-type food additives under all sorts of euphemisms, natural flavors being my favorite.
Look up excito-toxins/ maltodextrin etc. Learn about the hidden killers in the food industry products.

Well, Oliver's, I'm sure you will see me as a customer once in a while, but much, much less than before. I am disgusted and dismayed at your hypocritical disregard for our health. If I see your salad bar again, I will simply wonder what other junk you've thrown in there. And I will hope to get another grocery store in to our neighborhood. For me, the worst insult is the hypocrisy.

[Dark Shadows]

Anyone who would pay $8 for a package of crackers or even $5 for that matter should have their head examined.

YouTube - ProjectRANT's Channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/ProjectRANT?v=dMN00JD2AaM&feature=pyv&ad=4993920584&kw=johnny%20cash%20listen#p/a/f/2/S6esEY7DLGA)




Since I've been in the Cotati area (about a year) I've been relegated to shopping at Oliver's Market more often than I have wished and more often than my budget can support. It's the only large grocery store in town. Aside from all the over-priced goods, there is a fair amount of organic and healthy food offered. Never mind that the $8 special crackers I splurged on for my Spanish sister-in-law are available everywhere else for $5 (now I know). Never mind the fact that countless times I've walked out of there feeling overcharged for my puny little bag of groceries.

Here is my real gripe: I bought some of their ready made hummus (Oliver's brand) served it to guests, then looked at the label. For the very first time in my life I saw 3 ingredients in a hummus that have absolutely no business there. Did you ever think our dear Oliver's would put High Fructose Corn Syrup, sugar and maltodextrin in a supposed healthy product??. Well they do. I have not gone back since to check their other products.

I almost always make my own hummus, have for decades, and I can tell you those ingredients have no business in that food. There is some very compelling info about HFCS and how it is destroying our health. Sugar in hummus?? Give me a break. Maltodextrin? It's one of the most commonly used excito-toxins (think MSG). So few people seem to know about excito-toxins yet. Inform yourselves. These are brain killers and are found under every form of nomenclature to mask the reality, like simply Natural Flavors. Their purpose is to trick the taste buds into believing that something tastes really, really yummy. Recognize that? You get a bag of flavored chips or frozen pizza and you are eating it like crazy, but if you slow down and really taste, you wonder what's going on. It's not all that good, but you're eating it like crazy. In the meantime, it's killing our braincells. We can thank our FDA for masking the MSG-type food additives as something as benign as Natural Flavors.

Look up excito-toxins/ maltodextrin etc. Learn about the hidden killers in the food industry products.

Well, Oliver's, I'm sure you will see me as a customer once in a while, but much, much less than before. I am disgusted and dismayed at your hypocritical disregard for our health. If I see your salad bar again, I will simply wonder what other junk you've thrown in there. And I will hope to get another grocery store in to our neighborhood. For me, the worst insult is the hypocrisy.

[sapphire]

Claire, I don't understand what you mean by hypocrasy?

I don't believe Oliver's has ever made the claim that all their products sold in the store are all organic and no preservative etc????

I agree with you on additives issue , but don't understand your point about hypocrasy.

I personally love Oliver's and have and will continue to shop there.
Also they are not responsible for your health!
Oy Vey!!!!!

[Claire]

Yes, I know they were expensive. They were these special gallettes or something. I bought them for her because they remind her of home and she is missing her country and its food and her family. I felt duped when I found out they were charging 3 dollars more than anywhere else.



Anyone who would pay $8 for a package of crackers or even $5 for that matter should have their head examined.

[Claire]

I am a confirmed label reader. Simply the fact that i pulled something off the shelf at Oliver's with their brand name, with the trust that it was good ingredients told me that I was trusting them unlike any other store to not put 3 types of uncalled-for ingredients in their food product, 2 of which are toxins according to the latest research. I felt it was hypocritical of them because there is such an enlightened feel to most of the store and their products. It was quite the disappointment. What do you think you are getting in their salad bar? I can now tell you what's in the hummus. How many of you would honestly expect that from Oliver's?

Ok, I suppose I'll be getting flack for this, but read the labels everywhere, do not trust any store, and I really want people to know about these excito-toxins. They are everywhere, apparently. And HFCS?
Somewhere in this link is a very interesting video all about HFCS and what it's doing to our people. It does NOT belong in our bodies.
Sugar: Addiction & Dangers (https://www.angelfire.com/az/sthurston/sugar_addiction.html)




Claire, I don't understand what you mean by hypocrasy?

I don't believe Oliver's has ever made the claim that all their products sold in the store are all organic and no preservative etc????

I agree with you on additives issue , but don't understand your point about hypocrasy.

I personally love Oliver's and have and will continue to shop there.
Also they are not responsible for your health!
Oy Vey!!!!!

[Tars]

maltodextrin in a supposed healthy product?.

I'm curious about maltodextrin; I've been researching it a little bit lately - not a lot. The impression I got is that it's relatively harmless. I'm curious what you know about it that I don't.

[someguy]

Since I've been in the Cotati area (about a year) I've been relegated to shopping at Oliver's Market more often than I have wished and more often than my budget can support. It's the only large grocery store in town. Aside from all the over-priced goods, there is a fair amount of organic and healthy food offered. Never mind that the $8 special crackers I splurged on for my Spanish sister-in-law are available everywhere else for $5 (now I know). Never mind the fact that countless times I've walked out of there feeling overcharged for my puny little bag of groceries.

Here is my real gripe: I bought some of their ready made hummus (Oliver's brand) served it to guests, then looked at the label. For the very first time in my life I saw 3 ingredients in a hummus that have absolutely no business there. Did you ever think our dear Oliver's would put High Fructose Corn Syrup, sugar and maltodextrin in a supposed healthy product??. Well they do. I have not gone back since to check their other products.

I almost always make my own hummus, have for decades, and I can tell you those ingredients have no business in that food. There is some very compelling info about HFCS and how it is destroying our health. Sugar in hummus?? Give me a break. Maltodextrin? It's one of the most commonly used excito-toxins (think MSG). So few people seem to know about excito-toxins yet. Inform yourselves. These are brain killers and are found under every form of nomenclature to mask the reality, like simply Natural Flavors. Their purpose is to trick the taste buds into believing that something tastes really, really yummy. Recognize that? You get a bag of flavored chips or frozen pizza and you are eating it like crazy, but if you slow down and really taste, you wonder what's going on. It's not all that good, but you're eating it like you're starving! In the meantime, it's killing our braincells. We can thank our FDA for allowing the food industry to mask the MSG-type food additives under all sorts of euphemisms, natural flavors being my favorite.
Look up excito-toxins/ maltodextrin etc. Learn about the hidden killers in the food industry products.

Well, Oliver's, I'm sure you will see me as a customer once in a while, but much, much less than before. I am disgusted and dismayed at your hypocritical disregard for our health. If I see your salad bar again, I will simply wonder what other junk you've thrown in there. And I will hope to get another grocery store in to our neighborhood. For me, the worst insult is the hypocrisy.

Why would you trust anyone with your own health? Always read the labels before purchasing. Buyer beware.

[Claire]

Search excitotoxin and maltodextrin together and see what you get. Or just excitotoxin by itself. Very interesting reading. Some occur naturally, like in soy sauce. Others like hydrolized/ autolized soy or wheat proteins and yeast extracts, ad nauseum, are added to food to generate a sense of flavor that is not there from the food. umm yum.
Gotta have my soy sauce, but I'm really trying to keep the rest down to a minimum.


I'm curious about maltodextrin; I've been researching it a little bit lately - not a lot. The impression I got is that it's relatively harmless. I'm curious what you know about it that I don't.

[Dark Shadows]

I have an answer Claire-instead of relying on a grocery store to make the food you serve your family, why don't you make your own hummus? It's very simple. Just take one can of chick peas/garbanzo beans, undrained (make sure it's low sodium if you have hypertension) throw it in your blender or food processor and pulverize. Add the juice of half a lemon, 3 tablespoons of tahini paste (sesame seed butter), minced garlic to taste and a tablespoon of cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil. Blend at high speed until smooth. I usually sprinkle freshly chopped basil or mint leaves on top and drizzle with more olive oil. Serve it with warm pita bread.
Search excitotoxin and maltodextrin together and see what you get. Or just excitotoxin by itself. Very interesting reading. Some occur naturally, like in soy sauce. Others like hydrolized/ autolized soy or wheat proteins and yeast extracts, ad nauseum, are added to food to generate a sense of flavor that is not there from the food. umm yum.
Gotta have my soy sauce, but I'm really trying to keep the rest down to a minimum.

[robinj]

I too am shocked that Olivers would put those ingredients in their hummus! It makes me wonder if they are just putting their label on another brand, the way Trader Joe's does. I think you should talk to the manager. Thats the way change can be made. The more people demand quality food the stores will eventually supply the demand. For now, Olivers seems to still be a hybrid (part supermarket/ part health food store) One thing they do better than most health food stores though is support local vendors. I give them props for that. And yes making your own hummus is so satisfying and economical!

[Claire]

Hey, Dark Shadows, I clearly said that I almost always make my own hummus, have for decades. I even cook the dried beans if I have the time, because it tastes so much better. But thanks for the recipe. It is easy and simple. I never use a recipe any more, just go by taste and personally find that the amount of tahini usually suggested is too cloying for me. I read every hummus recipe I see and experiment often. These days chipotle powder and/or some cumin or Turkish seasoning is my preference, as is lemon zest or meyer lemon oil (homemade at a fraction of the cost).
Also I drain and rinse the canned beans because I believe that is where the canned flavor most resides. Adding some water instead can cut down on calories, instead of so much yummy olive oil.
Since you press the issue, I only bought the hummus because I had made a big batch of tabouli, had to have hummus with it. :) But ran out of time to be perfect. again.

Also, when I'm at that store, i see so many neat people, folks I could picture hanging out with in my garden or living room. I just want them to not be seduced by the image thing. To quote Mad-eye Moody, "Constant Vigilance!!"


I have an answer Claire-instead of relying on a grocery store to make the food you serve your family, why don't you make your own hummus? It's very simple. Just take one can of chick peas/garbanzo beans, undrained (make sure it's low sodium if you have hypertension) throw it in your blender or food processor and pulverize. Add the juice of half a lemon, 3 tablespoons of tahini paste (sesame seed butter), minced garlic to taste and a tablespoon of cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil. Blend at high speed until smooth. I usually sprinkle freshly chopped basil or mint leaves on top and drizzle with more olive oil. Serve it with warm pita bread.

[The A Team]

Hi Claire,
Just a thought....It may be worthwhile to speak with the owners about this, I have done so in the past regarding where their organic produce comes from.
Andrea


Yes, I know they were expensive. They were these special gallettes or something. I bought them for her because they remind her of home and she is missing her country and its food and her family. I felt duped when I found out they were charging 3 dollars more than anywhere else.

[kayla]

I love Olivers.

Since I've been in the Cotati area (about a year) I've been relegated to shopping at Oliver's Market more often than I have wished and more often than my budget can support. It's the only large grocery store in town. Aside from all the over-priced goods, there is a fair amount of organic and healthy food offered. Never mind that the $8 special crackers I splurged on for my Spanish sister-in-law are available everywhere else for $5 (now I know). Never mind the fact that countless times I've walked out of there feeling overcharged for my puny little bag of groceries.

Here is my real gripe: I bought some of their ready made hummus (Oliver's brand) served it to guests, then looked at the label. For the very first time in my life I saw 3 ingredients in a hummus that have absolutely no business there. Did you ever think our dear Oliver's would put High Fructose Corn Syrup, sugar and maltodextrin in a supposed healthy product??. Well they do. I have not gone back since to check their other products.

I almost always make my own hummus, have for decades, and I can tell you those ingredients have no business in that food. There is some very compelling info about HFCS and how it is destroying our health. Sugar in hummus?? Give me a break. Maltodextrin? It's one of the most commonly used excito-toxins (think MSG). So few people seem to know about excito-toxins yet. Inform yourselves. These are brain killers and are found under every form of nomenclature to mask the reality, like simply Natural Flavors. Their purpose is to trick the taste buds into believing that something tastes really, really yummy. Recognize that? You get a bag of flavored chips or frozen pizza and you are eating it like crazy, but if you slow down and really taste, you wonder what's going on. It's not all that good, but you're eating it like you're starving! In the meantime, it's killing our braincells. We can thank our FDA for allowing the food industry to mask the MSG-type food additives under all sorts of euphemisms, natural flavors being my favorite.
Look up excito-toxins/ maltodextrin etc. Learn about the hidden killers in the food industry products.

Well, Oliver's, I'm sure you will see me as a customer once in a while, but much, much less than before. I am disgusted and dismayed at your hypocritical disregard for our health. If I see your salad bar again, I will simply wonder what other junk you've thrown in there. And I will hope to get another grocery store in to our neighborhood. For me, the worst insult is the hypocrisy.

[Claire]

I know. that's the thing. they have wonderful, fabulous stuff of all sorts.
I just wish they would get it together for their wonderful, fabulous customers.
~ Claire

I love Olivers.

[Dark Shadows]

Oliver's is the only place I've found Cherry Creek Farms Peanut Free baking products. It's a brand for people with food allergies like everyone in my family. Plus, they make a mean cup of coffee for my caffiene fix while I'm shopping. I love Tahini, so much that I eat it straight. It is one of the best butters I have ever tasted. Of course I like things on the tart side. I don't like hot stuff very much so the chipotle is not for me, neither is the cumin. I like pure, unadulterated hummus. And I use the canned juice because I think it adds flavor. I don't detect a canned taste at all. One thing I have not been able to find is good pita bread like the kind they serve in nice Greek restaurants. My pita sucks! It is like cardboard. I would like a recipe for nice, soft pita bread that I can serve with my hummus. I have mastered pizza dough, but not pita!

Much like many home recipes you alter it to your own taste. I have cooked the hell out of chick peas and they never get soft enough for my taste. I buy them at the Italian deli and only use them for minestrone, which needs to be cooked for a long time to get the flavor out of the bones you use for stock.

I don't go for fancy schmanzy stuff like Meyer Lemon Oil. With kids, dogs, horses, birds and husbands/significant others and other life stuff in my life (like my job) I don't have time to be fancy.
Hey, Dark Shadows, I clearly said that I almost always make my own hummus, have for decades. I even cook the dried beans if I have the time, because it tastes so much better. But thanks for the recipe. It is easy and simple. I never use a recipe any more, just go by taste and personally find that the amount of tahini usually suggested is too cloying for me. I read every hummus recipe I see and experiment often. These days chipotle powder and/or some cumin or Turkish seasoning is my preference, as is lemon zest or meyer lemon oil (homemade at a fraction of the cost).
Also I drain and rinse the canned beans because I believe that is where the canned flavor most resides. Adding some water instead can cut down on calories, instead of so much yummy olive oil.
Since you press the issue, I only bought the hummus because I had made a big batch of tabouli, had to have hummus with it. :) But ran out of time to be perfect. again.

Also, when I'm at that store, i see so many neat people, folks I could picture hanging out with in my garden or living room. I just want them to not be seduced by the image thing. To quote Mad-eye Moody, "Constant Vigilance!!"

[Garden Goddess]

I read that an actual study (done with rats or mice, I believe) on high fructose corn syrup vs. sugar (glucose) revealed that HFCS not only contributes to diabetes and morbid obesity, but is a cause of these dis-eases. The animals on the HFCS showed signs of these illnesses, the animals on sugar did not. (I personally do not agree with using animals for research, however I found the knowledge gained from this study to be extremely disturbing.)

These are invented substances that are not food. Humans are cavalierly using their brains (not their spirits, obviously) to invent cheap products to make money without regard for life. Watch the movie, King Corn - a documentary. Also, I have heard that Food, Inc. is a good documentary, but have not seen it yet. It is available to watch on the internet on the PBS website.

I have no doubt that excitotoxins such as MSG are hiddin in maltodextrin, "natural flavors," etc. My dad just sent me a link regarding this. (I am unsure if I can post a link here...) I am a label reader and always wondered about "natural flavors." My first response is-natural flavor from what?!
The fake sugar aspartame is also an excitotoxin. Anybody drink "Vitamin Water?" Theres aspartame in it. There is a new cereal targeted for women that brags about no added sugar. The fine print says it has fake sugar! Also these products are being target-marketed to kids.

I agree with and abide by the axiom quoted in the next post - Constant Vigilance!

[hales]

I agree with Andrea, it makes a lot of sense to read labels and to try to influence the stores you patronize.. Whole Foods and Trader Joe's have changed some of their policies and practices, due to massive input about organics, GMO's, fishing practices, etc... stay engaged! It's not reasonable to expect businesses to be as concerned with our health and other concerns as we are.. it's up to us to be proactive and vigilant about our priorities.

Scott.


Hi Claire,
Just a thought....It may be worthwhile to speak with the owners about this, I have done so in the past regarding where their organic produce comes from.
Andrea

[sharyn limp]

I know. that's the thing. they have wonderful, fabulous stuff of all sorts.
I just wish they would get it together for their wonderful, fabulous customers.
~ Claire
Get it together????? What do you suggest????? I work for Olivers and I love Olivers.....Please tell me how you would like to see us improve...

[Claire]

Well, for starters, use all wholesome ingredients in your take out and salad bar. Your customers love your store. Love them back or at least respect them. If we are to pay premium prices we should be getting premium food.

Read up on HFCS, nasty stuff, that. Excitotoxins? Who needs them if the food is good enough. If the food is lousy and needs them to "taste good" then it should not be super premium prices but budget level.
BTW, Trader Jo's stuff is often full of them. I expect to find them there.
Look, I love the stuff that's offered at Oliver's. ( I'm not advocating a boycott. ) I always buy more than I plan, but I was very disappointed to find toxins in my food. simple. Shocked, in fact, silly me, as many have pointed out.

Now, I won't be able to see this thread for a while as I'll be traveling back to Corn Country where they barely leave a tree standing anymore so they can get another row in. If the land is flat, it's corn or soy. It's so weird what's happened to the corn belt. You never see food grown anymore (at least very rarely). You don't see hedge rows for the birds and critters. You see Monsanto seeds planted for endless miles. I'll bet you can't find anearthworm in those fields.The Omnivore's Dilemma explains well. Corn is now a commodity of the chemical, industrial/ military complex.

sigh... Home.... but not anymore.
I'll be glad to get back here.


Get it together????? What do you suggest????? I work for Olivers and I love Olivers.....Please tell me how you would like to see us improve...