Disappointed With Wild Oats Market

[marciab]

Well, I finally made it to the Wild Oats market 45 minutes south of me. I had heard how much better and bigger it was than my local health food store. It was definitely bigger, at least 3 times the size, but not better.

The meat storage units smelled like old rotted meat and there was a fly on one of the meat packages. I was hungry for meat (I am very anemic), so I got some chicken (had butcher get it from the back), but I can't eat it because I still can't get over the smell or the fly. The fly looked alive because I thought it was staring at me. So, being the pest that I am, I flicked it. It was dead, just stuck to the top of the package. GROSS !!!

The rest of the store was disappointing too. Their salad bar was completely open, so everything looked dry. The prepared deli section was gross too. Everything had that crusty, dried out look on top. The produce section had more "conventional" fruits and veggies than organic. I love the word conventional as opposed to "full of pesticides". The gluten free section was interesting, but entirely too small. I got a Chebe pizza bread mix I am looking forward to making. And they had the Lara bars everyone talks about.

There were at least 20 extra friendly employees ready to help me shop. Why aren't some of them helping keep the meat counter, deli and salad sections clean and fresh ?

I went there because Publix ( local grocery store) can't keep the all natural meats in stock. And what they have is sooo expensive. The last time I tried to buy buffalo meat at Publix, all 4 packages were out of date by a week.

Why is healthy food so hard to find and expensive ? I know it is supposedly more expensive to grow, but I find it hard to believe it costs as much as we are being charged.

We are supposed to be getting a Whole Foods market right accross the street from me by the end of the summer. I sure hope they are better.

Thanks for letting me vent. I figured ya'll are going through the same things I am as we try to get our health back. I am living for the day we can call and order a gluten free pizza delivered.

Marcia

[jerseyangel]

Oh Marcia--That does sound gross! Sorry you had such a dissapointing visit . On the bright side, the Whole Foods that is coming is a great store. I have been to 2 that are near me, and they are always well stocked, clean and have a nice selection. I have found the employees there also very nice and helpful. Hope they build yours fast

[AndreaB]

Marcia,

I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience at Wild Oats.

I don't know where you live but the Wild Oats in Vancouver WA is very clean. The meat, deli, salad, produce etc are all well maintained and fresh. I could handle it if they had a bigger gluten-free section but I now mainly go there for the meat but also get dairy or rice products there. We have a totally free gluten store in Vancouver also which carries many different brands and the prices for the most part are a little bit lower than Wild Oats.

I believe they are based out of Colorado. Maybe you should lodge a complaint about the condition of that store.

[tarnalberry]

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience there. It may be worth calling the local health department and asking them to do a local inspection, reporting what you find.

I say that, despite the fact I actually love the place, and have had quite the opposite experience in the two WO's that I used to go to. The one I primarily shopped at, my main grocery store, in Long Beach, originally had some problems that had to be corrected (as posted on their inspection review on their door), but they corrected them well, and the experience was very similar to going to Whole Foods, without being as expensive.

So I know they *can* do better, and I'm disappointed to hear that they're not doing better for you.

[marciab]

Patti,

They are taking over where a bankrupt Winn Dixie closed out about 2 months ago. So, thankfully, they don't have to build. I am psyched about it .

I live in a relatively small town in Fl, so I am hoping Whole Foods will keep their store clean. That is why Winn Dixie failed. So hopefully they will keep that in mind.

Andrea,

I really should complain. I can't see the point in complaining to the current manager as he can obviously see what I saw, so I will email corporate. Colorado is a long way from here, so maybe they aren't keeping up with the FL stores.

It was a real bummer to drive all that way and feel like I got home with unsanitary meat. I cooked it to death, but still am too grossed out by it to enjoy it.

Marcia

[mmaccartney]

What a disapointing visit Sorry that happened.

The Wild Oats by me is great!, Very clean and smells good too.

The gluten-free section is a bit small, but to even have one aisle in the store dedicated to gluten-free is a start. I've also noticed that they only put products that are intended to be gluten-free, like Cause Your Special, Glutano, etc. in the gluten-free section. There are gluten-free foods mixed throughout the store. They started putting labels with the ones that were gluten-free, but weren't in the dedicated aisle. You still have to be careful, that tags could be in the wrong place so I still read the package too.

[mouse]

I love my Wild Oats that I go to. They have a large gluten-free section and it is very clean. The manager always works with me and if I need something special he gets it in. I like mine better then Whole Foods. But also, Whole Foods is about 20 minutes further. I am so sorry that you had such a disappointing expierence. How frustrating that is to drive such a distance and be so disappointed.

[marciab]

Tiffany, Michael, Armetta,

I went on their website and emailed them. Hopefully, they will get it cleaned up. It wouldn't be so gross if I would just throw away the meat I bought and go buy something else. Then I wouldn't be thinking about flies everytime I eat it.

It's just that I am just having such a tough time finding all natural meat that I hate to throw it away. Publix just doesn't carry enough of it and paying $$$ just rubs me the wrong way. They usually have ground buffalo meat, but I really don't want anymore buffalo meat.

This diet is hard enough without having to forage for food and be gauged at the register.

Thanks for listening ... marcia

[eKatherine]

I went to Wild Oats when it opened. The store was attractive and well kept. I was dissappointed in the prices - higher than the local natural foods store that they're driving out of business - and the selection - lots of processed packaged convenience foods for people who have to have that, and not so many whole foods.

I can't afford the meat or produce, but that's neither here nor there.

[marciab]

Hi All,

I heard from corporate and store manager today. They assured me that this was not the norm for them and competely unacceptable.

Thanks for letting me know your experiences at Wild Oats. I would have written them off if you hadn't told me your positive experiences.

They are sending me a gift certificate, so I will at least go back and try them again. It's 45 minutes one way, so I sure hope the meat dept is clean.

Why do I have to go through all this just to eat ??

Marcia

[TCA]

I may have a partial solution to your organic price woes: I know this may sound crazy to those of you who don't live in the country, but have you ever tried venison? My family is full of hunters and we have venison all the time. It is so lean and healthy. I just use it like beef to make about everything. It's definately organic and a great source of iron. If you know anyone who is a hunter, ask them to get one for you during the hunting season. Butcher fees vary from 25-75 dollars, but that's not much for that much meat. Sorry if I'm grossing anyone out, just a way of life in N. Alabama! Wild turkey is really good too, as is pheasant and quail.

[tarnalberry]

I'm glad they got back to you. I'd certainly give them a few weeks to "clean up their act" before bothering to drive back, though. You might even call the store before going, and ask what changes they've made, cleanliness wise, in their meat department, before heading in, though that'd require some steel backbone. ;-)

[marciab]

TCA,

I live in FL, so maybe I could get gator meat ? I will look for other wild sources though. That's a good idea. Thanks for the tip. Actually there is a restaurant near here that sells gator.

Tiffany,

The manager told me Monday when I called her at noon that they had already cleaned out the meat cases.

I am going to have to wait awhile before I can stomach getting meat from them again though.

I'm going to be a little nervous when I get to the register and show them my gift card. Hopefully, my name won't be on it.

I picked up some more BUFFALO meat at Publix this morning. I have got to find a way of disguising it. It tastes so strong compared to regular ground beef. I'm only buying it for it's iron content. It has the highest iron content I have seen so far ( 40% of the RDA ).

Thanks for your replies. Marcia

[tarnalberry]

I picked up some more BUFFALO meat at Publix this morning. I have got to find a way of disguising it. It tastes so strong compared to regular ground beef. I'm only buying it for it's iron content. It has the highest iron content I have seen so far ( 40% of the RDA ).

I like buffalo meat in chili, which gets lots of flavoring from the beans and spices anyway. You may find that works fine.

[jenvan]

Hi All,

I heard from corporate and store manager today. They assured me that this was not the norm for them and competely unacceptable.

Thanks for letting me know your experiences at Wild Oats. I would have written them off if you hadn't told me your positive experiences.

They are sending me a gift certificate, so I will at least go back and try them again. It's 45 minutes one way, so I sure hope the meat dept is clean.

Why do I have to go through all this just to eat ??

Marcia

A gift certificate....nice! I will also chime in and say that we have two Wild Oat's in my city and I have never encountered a sanitation or quality issue.

[eKatherine]

I may have a partial solution to your organic price woes: I know this may sound crazy to those of you who don't live in the country, but have you ever tried venison? My family is full of hunters and we have venison all the time. It is so lean and healthy. I just use it like beef to make about everything. It's definately organic and a great source of iron. If you know anyone who is a hunter, ask them to get one for you during the hunting season. Butcher fees vary from 25-75 dollars, but that's not much for that much meat. Sorry if I'm grossing anyone out, just a way of life in N. Alabama! Wild turkey is really good too, as is pheasant and quail.

Read the laws where you live before trying this. It would be definitely illegal in my state to do this. Here hunters are only allowed to shoot one deer, and no one is allowed to have game in their freezer without a hunting license and proof that they shot and registered it themselves.

[Guest cassidy]

Which Wild Oats in Florida did you go to? We had one recently open up near me in FL but I haven't been to it yet. I hope it isn't the same one, but at least they tried to make it right.

[marciab]

Cassidy,

I went to the one in Melbourne, FL. They told me that it has been there for 8 years.

Tiffany,

Chili sounds good. I've just re-introduced meat into my diet, so I'll have to modify my recipe to eliminate onions, etc. And I am guessing Mc Cormicks chili mix is out.

I got my gift card today. And they gave me my money back for the chicken. That was fast.

[TCA]

Read the laws where you live before trying this. It would be definitely illegal in my state to do this. Here hunters are only allowed to shoot one deer, and no one is allowed to have game in their freezer without a hunting license and proof that they shot and registered it themselves.

I think the limit is one per day here. We are OVERRUN with deer, so it's a population control thing. If that was the law in AL, half the state would be in jail! I'm not advocating anything outside the rules here at all. My family is full of hunters, but they all hunt by the rules, with mercy, and good sportsmanship. I detest those who don't!!! I guess by growing up on the farm, hunting never bothered me, but unsportsmanlike hunting makes me angrier than about anything!!!!

[Webcrystal]

If you find the buffalo a little strong you might try grinding it(if not ground already) and mixing it with pork or reg beef.

[marciab]

That sound like a really good idea. The buffalo is ground, but I can ask the butcher to grind up some pork for me. Thanks ...

[oceangirl]

I went to Wild Oats when it opened. The store was attractive and well kept. I was dissappointed in the prices - higher than the local natural foods store that they're driving out of business - and the selection - lots of processed packaged convenience foods for people who have to have that, and not so many whole foods.

I can't afford the meat or produce, but that's neither here nor there.

Hi! I just thought I would say "hello" as I noticed you are from Maine. I have been using Wild Oats as well, and am disappointed they are pushing the Whole Grocer out of business! The prices are too high; unfortunately, some things I can only find there. Good luck to you.

From One Maine Girl to Another

lisa

[rinne]

Thanks for letting me vent. I figured ya'll are going through the same things I am as we try to get our health back. I am living for the day we can call and order a gluten free pizza delivered.

What an absolutely brilliant idea. I think it is just a question of demographics or how many celiacs and gluten intolerant individuals does it take to support a pizza place? I read an article not long ago, on this forum I think if not suffering a mental pause, talking about the projected increase in sales of gluten free products as diagnosis of Celiac disease rises.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience, especially since you drove all the way but at least they paid attention to your complaint and I think there is a lesson in that, they want our business. I am particular about what kind of business I will give them. I find that I don't spend much money on the processed stuff and that saves money. I am concerned with organics going big business and compromising the integrity of the process in order to further their financial ends. On the OMG thread we were talking about the use of auxi-gro on organic crops to increase yield and the fact that it contains MSG.

I belong to an organic co-op that takes about 4 hours of my time every two weeks to help sort the order. I wonder if there is anything like that in your area or whether you could find a group of people interested enough in organic food to participate in a co-op. It does take work but it is so worth it, at the sort there are lots of moms, babies, a couple of dads and little ones also, of course, a ton of fresh produce, altogether the place seems to vibrate with life.

drift...

I was talking with one of the members about living with a diagnosis of terminal cancer. She said that she had recently asked the doctor for a prognosis and he told her that he couldn't explain why she was alive because three years ago he thought she would be dead within a year. I did not know her then but she said when she first joined the co-op she weighed 65 pounds and they would carry her in where she would rest while the sort was being done. I think it is life that keeps her alive.

Another alternative in some places is Community Shared Agriculture which links the farmer and the consumer together directly. Basically the city person pays the farmer up front for a summer's crop and the farmer delivers to the city what they can grow and the city person takes the risk with the farmer.