If you buy from Dollar Stores...

[kadee79]

Beware...be aware...read labels & ingredients...

For many Americans, dollar stores are their go-to destination for buying food, toys, cleaning supplies, and other household goods. Dollar stores sell so much food that they're now among the top 25 food retailers in the United States.1 Their physical numbers are surging, with more locations across the country than Walmarts and McDonald's combined. In 2018, Dollar General was opening stores at a rate of three per day and it plans to build or renovate 1,850 locations in 2021.



This might sound like a good idea—improving access to shopping, particularly for Americans in lower-income neighborhoods who may not have transportation or funds to shop at larger grocery stores—but it raises other concerning issues. A study conducted by the Campaign for Healthier Solutions just found that 54% of products sold in dollar stores contain at least one chemical of concern.



The report tested 300 different products (including consumer products, food, microwave popcorn, and electronics), as well as paper receipts, using several different test methods to determine what they contained. The results were alarming—lead solder in electronics, flexible plastics with PVC that has been banned or regulated, canned foods with BPA liners, pans and cookware coated with non-stick PFAS chemicals, microwave popcorn with PFAS coatings, and BPS (bisphenol S) in receipts. These chemicals have been linked to asthma, low birth weights, cancer, immune system problems, learning disabilities, diabetes, and other serious health problems.

www.treehugger.com/study-toxic-chemicals-dollar-store-products-5188670

[Opti]

Interesting although I rarely shop Family Dollar or Dollar General. The one I go to is not a chain and I primarily buy discounted chocolate (name brand) and frozen food (sometimes not name brand). The receipt thing is interesting though. Why would that be just a dollar store issue and not a Walmart and grocery store issue as well? 

Some of the dollar stores seem to have the same brands I do not see in regular grocery stores, however, my preferred dollar store sometimes has frozen food from Walmart or Target. 

[Tiny]

meh, nothing new. Back in the early 2000's (I think the first dollar store opened near my home around 2003 or 04?) there were warnings about the ingredients and quality of the not name brand products at the Dollar Stores... so the toothpaste that looked like Colgate or Crest but was a Chinese knockoff might have some questionable chemicals in it for example or might not even be toothpaste.

The thing is... you can find the same issues (The results were alarming—lead solder in electronics, flexible plastics with PVC that has been banned or regulated, canned foods with BPA liners, pans and cookware coated with non-stick PFAS chemicals, microwave popcorn with PFAS coatings, and BPS (bisphenol S) in receipts.) in name brand products you trust and buy at your local favorite Brand Name Grocery.

At least with name brand products you can have some confidence that it's consistent and that substitutes haven't been made on what's in the packaging.

I remember the questionable chemicals/quality (possible actual danger) in Dollar Store Chinese made knock off products made news before the melamine in pet food thing that happened in 2007.

The gist of this is - pay attention to the labeling and what's actually IN the products you buy/use no matter WHERE you purchase the stuff.  Don't assume General Mills or Colgate or any producer of products has your best interests at heart.  They don't. they want your money. 

[daisylu]

Sadly, a lot of people who shop these type of stores lack money, access, or transportation to other shopping alternatives - as called out in the article.


This might sound like a good idea—improving access to shopping, particularly for Americans in lower-income neighborhoods who may not have transportation or funds to shop at larger grocery stores


I have the availability to shop other places, but I also shop these type of stores sometimes for convenience. Though usually Family Dollar, not Dollar General, and I only buy name brand products.

[NoNamePerson]

I have a neighbor who doesn’t drive so l play taxi periodically. A trip to dollar tree, dollar general or family dollar has been an eye opener at times. Unless comparing apples to apples etc they can be higher than target or Walmart. But I’m a unit price type of shopper and label reader. 

as for stuff in their products, read label of name brand toothpaste bought in other stores (made in USA) includes “imported products” funny non of those products are listed. It’s a crap shoot no matter where you buy your stuff. Ok I’ll shut up.

[sesfw]

The only things I purchase at Dollar Stores are paper products.

I'm a Sudoku addict so I get those puzzle books for $1 each.  Greeting cards is another thing, and if I'm planning a small party I'll get decorations and such.

[Tiny]

I do use the "Dollar Store" - there's 3 different ones in the 3 close by "retail districts" - ie what use to be the "street with all the stores" before the big "Shopping Centers" happened in the 70's - and you would drive 3 miles to get a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk rather than walk down 3 blocks to get it.

I get aluminum baking pans (I use a handful per year), plastic table cloths for a dollar (using one as a green screen for my zoom meetings), some household cleaners (usually name brand), "party" paper goods and decorations, and sometimes kitchen gadgets (tongs, or measuring cups/spoons - I split up the measuring cups and spoons and put them were I need them - each thing gets a dedicated measure: bleach in the laundry, under the sink for the drain cleaner stuff, with the bag o'plant food, in the bucket of wild bird seed, you get the idea. I had to recycle some of the plastic measure cups/spoons (duplicates/no use for) but the years of convenience and a one and one solution has been worth it.).

And I agree with NoNamePerson about the prices on food - they may not always be less expensive than a grocery store (even grocery sale prices).