Throw it away

**Spirit Deer** · 03-27-2009, 07:58 AM

Does this irk anyone besides me?

There was yet another recall notice on the news this morning, along with the instruction that if you had any of the offending cookies containing melamine, you should "throw them away." That seems to have become the standard advice to consumers anymore where recalled items are concerned.

The advice used to be to return the item for a refund.

Why are consumers now being instructed to pay for poisoned items, rather than making the company who produced those items refund our money? Why should we help them protect their bottom line when they've been irresponsible?

**2ndGenGranola** · 03-27-2009, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by Spirit Deer

Does this irk anyone besides me?

Oh yes. I think they should refund the money and any dr bills.

**ktsmama** · 03-27-2009, 09:03 AM

If recalls continue at the rate we have seen lately, we will have to add a line on our taxes where we can write off all of the recalled products that we have had to toss.

**Spirit Deer** · 03-27-2009, 09:09 AM

Food recalls are one big reason I'm doing more scratch cooking. I figure the fewer steps our food has to go through before we get our hands on it, the better the chance it won't be the subject of a recall.

Of course, this theory doesn't always work.

**TexasPeanut** · 03-27-2009, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by ktsmama

If recalls continue at the rate we have seen lately, we will have to add a line on our taxes where we can write off all of the recalled products that we have had to toss.

Oh I like this idea!

Like Rae and many others here, I try to do as many homemade and from scratch items as I can. It seems more and more that is just becoming the safer route to go along with growing as much of your food as you possibly can.

**perSue** · 03-27-2009, 10:14 AM

from what little experience i have, w/the past PB issue, there were a couple places that called us & said a couple diff. things.
one place said "bring back merchandice for refund."
another said "throw food away, bring back receipt for refund"
another i had to call a special hotline, instructed me to throw away food & give some receipt & product info & i'd get a refund (never saw this money!).

however, the point is, to return the product to the store, which has to return to the manufacturer costs the manufacturer MORE money.
which in turn, COSTS us more money to buy the end product.

So, you, the customer, throw it away, to save the company more money, which it would end up having, you, the customer, pay for on the next batch of (non toxic) foodstuffs.

Let's not discuss how homeless ppl (who may/may not be aware of current recalls) are getting into this food. how some of our pets and wild animals are getting into this food.

But I digress...

**Spirit Deer** · 03-27-2009, 11:00 AM

Sue, that makes a little sense, but it just doesn't sit right that the consumer is supposed to take the loss when it's the manufacturer who messed up.

**Greebo** · 03-27-2009, 11:02 AM

I don't see why the manufacturer couldn't accept proof of purchase - like the UPC code from the package, and let you throw the rest away.

**Michelle** · 03-27-2009, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by Greebo

I don't see why the manufacturer couldn't accept proof of purchase - like the UPC code from the package, and let you throw the rest away.

:agree: or even that plus/or the panel where the manufacturing info is (when it was produced, batch info, etc). How many people save ALL of their food receipts? If I buy cookies, for example, and don't end up eating them for a few months (doesn't happen here--they're eaten right away, but if someone stockpiled), I am not going to have the receipt to prove that I've bought the item.

I don't know--just seems like something is wrong in this world if I have to willingly accept that my money was spent on something that I can't use because of a manufacturer's error because to do otherwise means that they'll need to raise the price because the stores were returning the items.

**Spirit Deer** · 03-27-2009, 11:13 AM

I guess my real complaint is with the news media for always saying things should be thrown away when they used to say to return an item for refund.

**rainbowgc** · 03-27-2009, 12:09 PM

I always call the company involved and more times than not receive a certificate for another product for free

**MoonMommy** · 03-27-2009, 01:18 PM

What was recalled?

**Spirit Deer** · 03-27-2009, 01:25 PM

Something called Nutella (?) Sugar Crackers. I didn't really notice because not only do I not have any, I've never heard of them.

Another rant about packaged food is how impossible it is to find out where it's made. The labels are required by law to indicate that, but they don't. It usually just says 'Distributed by Soandso Company.'

Big deal.

**Thevail** · 03-27-2009, 01:28 PM

Caution..potentially contentious topic..caution.

Welcome to the corporate society...
All responsibility and cost lands on the consumers back..period.

It's exactly the same thing as the electric bill saying that the electric company is not responsible even if your payment is lost, stolen, folded, spindled, mutilated, or launched into space...even if it happened in their office.

So whho is responsible..not the post office, just ask 'em...

But they'll shut your power off anyway..and you'll have to pay a $30 fee to cancel the check.

So you bought some poisonous cookies..you're responsible for either losing your money (throwing them away) or for trying to get a replacement product, or trying to get your money back..no reciept...too bad.

And the idea that a company can put out a flawed product and then somehow the result is the consumers problem..oh, and don't make us take them back..we'd just have to charge you more to cover our mistake..is absolutely ludicrous.

Companies used to be careful with the things they produced, BECAUSE a screw up cost them lots of money. Now that it is routine to pass all those costs on to the consumer..why bother to be careful?