At my local grocery market this morning, I perused the cereal aisle for a healthy, grab-n-go breakfast snack. The options were endless – fruit and fiber, granola and yogurt, even chocolate and caramel. I opted for a granola bar with a nutritious sounding name and produced by a very reputable food company. As an added bonus this product was not only on sale, but also had a peel-and-use coupon right on the box! Score!!
Quite proud of my super saver find, I headed to the check-out. I watched patiently as the attendant scanned the coupon over and over again to no avail. Finally upon closer inspection, she apologetically declared “This coupon is no longer valid. It has expired.” I explained the coupon was attached directly to the product, which was located front and center on its designated shelf. But once again she apologized, showing me the coupon and its expiration date: August 2013. Confusion ensued. August of last year??? How can that be? This is May 2014. The product expiration is November 2014. As I stood there, holding up customers while crunching numbers in my head, it hit me — just how old is this freakin’ cereal bar ???
I am fully aware that pre-packaged foods have preservatives. Of course they do. But I am once again reminded why I created Beach Biscuit. If a so-called nutrition bar for humans has enough ‘stuff’ in it to keep it on a store shelf for almost two years, just imagine what they put in dog treats!
I get to choose what I eat. And yes, sometimes I choose easy pre-packaged foods. And sometimes I choose cruddy drive-through food. And in an effort to keep it all balanced, I also try to choose healthy fruits and veggies. But it’s all my choice. Pets don’t get the luxury of decision. They eat what their owners provide them. I started Beach Biscuit so that I could provide the best and healthiest treats to my dogs and to other pet owners who want the same for their babies.
As for that healthy, grab-n-go breakfast snack I was looking for – perhaps from now on I should choose something with an actual peel instead of a peel and use coupon.
