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Hot Topics

If it's hot, it's here: the things everybody's talking about, and you care about most.

Hot Topics

  • 1.COOL Labeling at Giant

    Giant recently began labeling meats and produce with the country of origin. Why?

    On September 30th, an updated law requires that beef, pork, lamb, veal, chicken, goat, raw nuts, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables carry a label with the origin of the food. This is called country of origin labeling and is also referred to as "COOL." Seafood has been labeling previously.

    Will all meats and produce be labeled?

    No. The legislation excludes "processed" foods from the labeling requirements.

    A processed food is defined as one that has undergone processing that changes its character or a food that has been combined with another covered commodity or other food.

    What are some examples of processed foods?

    • Meats that are cooked, cured, smoked, or combined with another commodity or combined with another substantive food are processed. For example, bacon, sausage, luncheon meats, breaded chicken tenders, ground beef, hamburger or beef patties that contain seasoning, breadcrumbs, etc. or are not labeled.
    • Nuts that are roasted, combined with other food ingredients, such as peanut butter, candy bars or trail mix.
    • Produce that is combined with another commodity such as a salad mix containing lettuce and carrots and a fruit cup that contains various types of fruits.

    Why do you import foods?

    Our goal is to provide customers with the best products all year round. Our buyers are tasked with providing the best products available and search the globe to ensure that we have a good selection of products year-round for our customers. We offer many locally grown and locally raised U.S. products based on seasonality and geography, and at other times, we take advantage of the growing seasons and availability of items in other geographic regions in order to provide our customers with fresh products they want, when they want them.

    Are imported foods safe?

    At Giant, we are dedicated to providing safe, wholesome food. All imported products are required to meet United States' food safety standards and regulations no matter where they were produced. Further, at Giant, we have excellent quality assurance teams who adhere to rigid food safety standards and insist upon only the highest quality products.

    What is Giant doing to ensure the quality and safety of imported foods?

    We have actively collaborated with our suppliers and the industry as a whole to ensure strict food standards for imported foods and worked together on the issue of country of origin labeling. For all products, including Giant products, our Nature's Promise natural and organics and Simply enjoy! gourmet products, we use reputable suppliers who demand rigid safety and quality controls. Our quality assurance teams ensure that our strict food safety and quality standards are properly maintained.

    Why do some products carry labels listing more than one country?

    In some cases, the livestock was born, raised and harvested in different countries. In these cases, the label must reflect all the countries where the animal spent time, from its birth to the place it was harvested.

    Where can I obtain for more information?

    You may visit the USDA website at www.ams.usda.gov/cool/ or our website at www.giantfood.com.

    What if I have other questions/concerns?

    For more information, please call Consumer Affairs at Giant at 1-888-469-4426 or visit www.giantfood.com.

  • 2.Saving Money at Giant

    What is Giant doing? We are providing customers with:

    Low Prices

    At Giant, we know that customers want a good value for their money and we are working to help our customers during this challenging time.

    Over the past year, we have been lowering prices throughout the store. Through our everyday low prices, weekly sales, Real Deals and more, you can find the low prices on the products you need everyday.

    High Quality Corporate Brands

    At Giant, we strive to keep prices low and to offer Giant exclusive brand products that give customers the same, or better quality, than national brand products at a better price.

    • Nature's Promise - Natural and Organic foods priced less than other brands. Try Nature's Promise milk, meats, juice, snacks, breads and frozen items.
    • Simply Enjoy! - Gourmet foods . . . from snacks, to frozen prepared appetizers and indulgent desserts.
    • CareOne - Over-the-counter health products that provide the same quality as national brand over-the-counter drugs, supplements and health and beauty care items.

    One-Stop Shopping

    Customers can save time and money on gas by picking up prescriptions, health and beauty needs, greeting cards and gifts (including our expanded gift card selection) while food shopping.

    Weekly Recipes

    We offer recipes each week in our circular in which a sale meat item is usually featured. We encourage customers to plan menus around sale items to save money and to stock up on sale items.

    Big Buys

    We offer Big Buys for meat purchases - the unit price is lower and customers can freeze a portion for later use.

    Guaranteed Value Products

    We recently expanded GV products, which are exclusive to Giant - to provide our customers quality products that are priced to save customers even more. Customers can find the GV (Guaranteed Value) label on beverages, paper products, household cleaners, health and beauty products, cookies and snacks, ice cream, canned fruits and vegetables and more.

    Money Saving Advice

    On the back of our circular, our Consumer advisor often provides great tips and ideas on how to save money to help our shoppers.

    Being a Smart Shopper helps too!

    What can I do to save money as I shop?

    Shop Wisely with these Money Saving tips:

    • Make a Shopping List

      Plan meals for the upcoming week and make a list of the ingredients you will need. You'll save money by buying less on impulse and you will save time by avoiding last minute trips to the store for missing ingredients.

    • Cook more and eat out less.

      It's healthier and can be faster too. Visit our Recipe Center for quick and easy recipes. Many of our recipes use only 5 ingredients or less and take less than 30 minutes to prepare.

    • Compare the unit price.

      Using the unit price on shelf tags helps you find the best value among comparable products.

    • Brown Bag your lunch.

      A brown bag lunch is less expensive than carry-out and healthier also. Be sure to include some cut-up veggies and a piece of fresh fruit or a convenient fruit cup!

    • Buy store brands.

      Store brands are comparable (or better!) than national brands at a better value. Look for all of our Giant brand products including Nature's Promise, Simply Enjoy!, CareOne, and Companion™ Pet Food.

    • Buy in season.

      In-season fruits and vegetables are at their best for freshness and value!

    • Keep a well-stocked pantry.

      A well-stocked pantry will help you fix a quick meal or snack that is tasty and nutritious - and save trips to the store. Great items to keep on hand: bottled salad dressings, pasta, rice and potato side dishes, olives, roasted red peppers, salsa, marinades, canned tuna and salmon, canned and boxed soups and broths (look for the ones lower in sodium or ones that have the word "healthy"), dry milk, shelf-stable puddings, flavored oils and vinegars.

    • Buy in Bulk

      Look for Big Buys and repackage into single servings

    • Clip coupons

      Clip coupons from magazines and the Sunday newspaper inserts or search the Internet for coupons. But only use coupons for items you would normally purchase or know you will use.

    • Shop for sales items

      Read the weekly sales circular; look for the sale signs in the store. Stock up on non-perishable food items such as diapers, paper and cleaning products and over the counter medicines. Freeze perishable sale items for later use.

    Click here to view a PDF of Recipes for Saving Money

  • 3.Eating Seafood During Pregnancy

    Eating seafood during pregnancy is considered important because fish is rich in many nutrients including omega-3s for healthy brain and eye development in babies. The following are recommendations on eating fish during pregnancy, breastfeeding and baby's early years:

    • Eat a variety of seafood
    • Eat up to 12 ounces, or two or three seafood meals a week
    • Avoid four fish during pregnancy: Shark, King Mackerel, Tilefish and Swordfish
    • Up to six of your weekly 12 ounces of fish can come from albacore tuna


    Delve into Twelve:

    Eat a wide variety of seafood to get your 12 ounces a week
    6 large shrimp = 3 ounces
    1/2 of a 6 ounce can = 3 ounces
    fish fillet (size of a palm)
    like salmon, tilapia, Pollock or catfish = 3 ounces
    6 large scallops = 3 ounces

  • 4.Produce Safety

    Staying Healthy...Staying Safe

    Fruits and Vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. You can protect yourself and your family by following these safe-handling tips!

    Purchasing

    • Purchase produce that is not bruised or damaged.
    • When selecting fresh cut produce such as a half of watermelon or bagged greens, choose items that are refrigerated or surrounded by ice.
    • Make sure fresh fruits and vegetables are bagged separately from meat, poultry and seafood when bagging them.

    Storage

    • Proper storage is important.
    • Certain perishable fresh fruits and vegetables are best maintained by storing them in a clean refrigerator at a temperature of 40 degrees or below.
    • All produce that is purchased precut or peeled should be refrigerated.

    Preparation

    • Begin with clean hands.
    • Cut away damaged or bruised areas and throw away produce that appears rotten.
    • All produce should be washed before eating, even those with peels.
    • Rub firm-skin produce under running tap water or scrub with a clean vegetable brush while rinsing with running tap water.

    For more information go to Fight BAC.

  • 5.Food Allergy Awareness

    A food allergy is an abnormal response to a food triggered by the body's immune system. Once exposed to the allergen, the allergic individual can suffer a mild to life-threatening reaction. The only control is avoidance of the food. Despite taking precautions, allergic people may be unknowingly exposed to an allergen.

    The Eight Major Food Allergens

    Milk, Egg, Fish, Crustacean Shellfish, Wheat, Soybeans, Peanuts, Tree Nuts

    Symptoms of Allergic Reaction

    Loss of consciousness • Shortness of breath • Itching or Tingling in and around the mouth, face, scalp hands and feet • Hives • Wheezing and difficulty breathing • Swelling of the face, eyelids, tongue, lips, hands or feet • Tightening of the throat (difficulty swallowing) • Sudden onset of vomiting, cramps or diarrhea

    What to Do

    React quickly - Call 911

  • 6.Imported Products and Safety

    Recently, the safety of various imported products has been in the news.

    At Giant, we are dedicated to providing safe and wholesome food. We have always maintained strict food safety and quality standards for the products on our shelves. And for all Giant products, including our Nature's Promise natural and organic line, as well as our Simply Enjoy! gourmet products, we use reputable suppliers who demand rigid quality controls. We also have excellent quality assurance teams, who insist upon only the highest quality products.

    Although all imported products are required to meet United States' food safety standards and regulations, some consumers are requesting "country of origin" labeling (COOL) for all imported products - they want to know which country manufactured the product and ingredients contained within the product. It seems like a simple request. However, the reality is that our food supply today is sourced from around the world, including products with ingredients from various sources.

    Nevertheless, single ingredient foods are being labeled as required by law. For example, seafood is currently labeled with the country of origin and labeling of produce, meat and poultry will take effect in September 2008. At Giant, we have been labeling many products with the country of origin and continue to collaborate with our suppliers and the industry as a whole to the issue of country of origin labeling and insist upon rigid food safety standards.

    Whether food is imported or domestic, food safety at Giant is a top priority. We will continue to demand the highest quality products and we are committed to providing your families with safe, wholesome food you can trust.

  • 7.Avian Influenza - Frequently Asked Questions

    What is it?

    Avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, is a bird disease caused by a virus. It is usually a mild disease. Poultry are routinely tested for avian influenza in an effort to quickly diagnose the disease and prevent its spread.

    How is the virus spread?

    The virus can occur naturally in some wild migratory water birds, such as ducks and geese, which do not get sick from the virus but can carry it to other birds. Domestic poultry such as chickens and turkeys can get bird flu. These bird flu viruses pose no serious threat to human health.

    Are there more serious forms of bird flu?

    Yes, there are certain types of bird flu viruses that can cause a very serious disease in birds. These are called highly pathogenic or HP forms of the virus. These viruses are often fatal to birds and can spread rapidly. They are a serious threat to the health of poultry.

    Are these serious forms of the virus common?

    There have only been three highly pathogenic (HP) avian influenza outbreaks in the U.S. - in 1924, 1983, and 2004. Each time the outbreak was quickly detected, contained and eradicated. However, there is an HP form of the virus called H5N1 that has become a serious concern. H5N1 is rapidly spreading from Asia to Europe and Africa, and usual methods for eliminating the spread of bird flu are not working. A finding of H5N1 in birds is not a pandemic.

    Can people get the flu from these HP forms of virus?

    Although bird flu viruses do not usually infect people, the H5N1 form has caused illness in some people who have had close and direct contact with diseased birds. The spread of the disease from one person to another has been very rare, and has never gone beyond one person.

    Will we get the H5N1 in this country?

    Because wild migratory birds can spread this virus, it is very possible that poultry in the U.S. will get the H5N1 virus. A finding of H5N1 in birds is NOT a pandemic. The H5N1 virus does not easily spread from birds to humans.

    Can people get H5N1 from eating poultry or eggs?

    People cannot get bird flu from eating properly handled and cooked food. (See tips below for safe food handling.)

    What is Pandemic Flu?

    Pandemic influenza is a worldwide outbreak of flu caused by a new flu virus that people have not been exposed to before. Because our bodies would have no resistance to this new virus, it could spread quickly from person to person and cause serious illness.

    What causes Pandemic Flu?

    Flu viruses have the ability to change or mutate, and any flu virus can mutate into a new form that easily infects people, spreads rapidly from person to person and causes serious illness. If this happens, we will not have a vaccine for this new virus and a pandemic could result.

    Will there be a flu pandemic?

    No one can predict when, or if, a flu pandemic might occur. Previous influenza pandemics (such as ones in 1918, 1957, and 1968) resulted in large numbers of illness and death. Many government organizations and businesses are developing plans for coping with a pandemic since preparedness is the best strategy. H5N1 was identified in 1996/1997, and has yet to mutate to a strain that is easily transmissible from human to human.

    Practical Tips for Handling Eggs and Poultry Safely:

    • Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling food.
    • Keep raw poultry and its juices separate from other foods.
    • Wash utensils and surfaces with hot, soapy water, including countertops and cutting boards.
    • Use a food thermometer (meat or quick response) to be sure poultry is cooked to at least 180 degrees. To check the temperature, place in the thickest part of the thigh (without touching bone). The internal temperature for poultry should be 165 degrees F. Cook eggs until both the yellow and white parts are firm. Egg dishes should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.

    Source: FMI: http://www.fmi.org/foodsafety/?fuseaction=avian_flu

    For more information:
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/flu
    1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) or 1-888-232-6348 for TTY
    Partnership For Food Safety Education: www.fightbac.org/content/view/6/11/
    US Government Information about Pandemics: www.pandemicflu.gov

  • 8.Preventing Childhood Obesity

    It's a fact - obesity has been steadily rising in children for the past two decades and it is the likely culprit of rise in diabetes in children. What's influencing this unhealthy trend? According to a recent report, factors include genetics, the increased availability of high calorie foods, a decrease in children's physical activity, and increased time in front of the television, using computers and playing video games.

    What is Giant doing? We are:

    • Encouraging children to eat more fruits and vegetables by partnering with the Produce for Better Health Foundation and offering fun activity sheets to promote fruits and veggies every month.
    • Offering Healthy Eating Store Tours to local schools and community groups to teach children about choosing healthy foods in every department in our stores
    • Offering numerous healthy choices and working on identifying the healthy foods throughout our store.
    • Involved in the USDA My Pyramid Corporate Challenge and collaborating with the USDA on promoting the messages of health eating in MyPyramid.gov and MyPyramid for Kids.
    • Sponsoring Healthy Eating Events for Children, including our Kitchn' Kids Cooking Contest.

    What can I do?

    Here are suggestions from the experts on how you can take an active role in preventing childhood obesity:

    • Serve child size portions. Pre-school children need about 1/3 to 1/2 the portion adults do.
    • Turn off the tube. Studies have documented that the risk of overweight increases as TV viewing increases. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting TV watching to no more than 2 hours per day. This also includes time playing video games and other sedentary activities. (25% of children watch TV for 4 hours or more a day).
    • Use better beverages. One clear change in children's dietary intake is the increase in soft drink consumption and the decrease in milk consumption over the last two decades. To assure adequate calcium, serve fat free and low fat milk with meals. Keep water handy and cold in the fridge for between meals.
    • More Matters! The more servings of fruits and vegetables, the better. Have everyone in the family count their daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Most fruits and vegetables are naturally low in fat and high in fiber, so offer a variety of fruits and vegetables at meals and snacks. Keep a fruit bowl handy.
    • Schedule meals. Research also shows that more children are skipping meals. When this happens they are more likely to fill up on high fat snacks and low nutrient sodas and drinks. Meals don't have to be elaborate, but sitting down together at the table brings the family together too!
    • Shop smart. Purchase gifts that are activity-related-skates, balls, a new bike- will help make exercise more exciting to kids.
    • Schedule activity and get everyone involved. Finding activities that the whole family can enjoy will have numerous benefits, including spending quality time as a family and physical activity that will benefit the whole family. Try a family walk after dinner or a family basketball game!
    • Be a role model. Some studies suggest that obesity is more prevalent in children with inactive parents. Play a sport regularly, ride a bike, or go for a walk. Your kids are watching!
  • 9.Going Green!

    At Giant protecting the environment is important to us!! Our Climate Action Team develops inspiring solutions to help the environment.

    Star Power!

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) named us an ENERGY STAR LEADER in 2007 as a result of our success in improving energy performance across our buildings.

    Energy Efficient Attributes

    We were recognized for energy-efficient day lighting, T5 florescent lighting systems, automatic occupancy sensors, and refrigeration systems with high-efficiency fan motors.

    Greenhouse Gas

    Energy use in refrigeration and food storage is necessary to provide safe, fresh quality food, so we've been working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our stores, distribution centers and transport.

    Energy Saving Innovations

    Newer stores are designed with reflective roofs, which reduce heat absorption and use less air conditioning in the summer, and special dimming systems that dim lights based on the amount of daylight harvested.

    Partners in Power

    We partnered with energy solutions developer EnerNOC, Inc., to help reduce stress on the electric power grid during high peak demand to help reduce power consumption and prevent blackouts.

    Eco-Friendly Driving

    Our drivers, trained in methods that reduce fuel usage and CO2 output, have successfully increased fuel economy. We're also working with the EPA and freight industry to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution through the EPA Smart Way Transport Partnership.

    Piloting Change

    In 2007, we were the only supermarket chain to be selected to participate in a pilot program for retailers integrating "green" technology into existing buildings by the U.S. Green Building Council, which develops and administers the nationally accepted LEED-EB standard for green buildings.

    Recycle!

    Our recycling and composting programs eliminate millions of pounds of trash each year and shopping bags are recycled into material to build decks and railings by Trex the leading manufacturer of alternative decking lumber in the U.S.

    Reuse!

    Although recycling helps reduce the negative impact on the environment, our goal is to encourage the widespread use of reusable bags. We launched a reusable bag program to give customers an affordable and eco-friendly alternative to paper and plastic bags and provide a 5 cents refund for every bag that is "reused" at our checkout!

    Many of you have been using reusable bags with increasing frequency. Thank you!

    And thanks for your commitment to protecting our earth. Together, we can make a difference!

  • 10.Family Meals - Finding Time

    With busy family schedules, it can be a challenge for the family to sit down at the same time for dinner. Not only is family mealtime a comforting ritual for young children, but also it provides a real opportunity to reconnect with teens. Although teens may show more interest in connecting with friends than family, research shows that family mealtime with children and teens provides long-term benefits. Children who have dinner with their families three or more nights a week are less likely to engage in risky behaviors. And regardless of family structure or income, teens that eat dinner with their families often, are more likely to have better grades, less stress and overall healthier diets.

    Here are a few suggestions on how you can make mealtime a family time more often:

    • Every Sunday, pick nights during the coming week when the family can eat together.
    • Pick a dinner theme such as Mexican or Italian and prepare foods that compliment your theme. (Decorations can make it fun too!)
    • Encourage children to create menu ideas. Have children help with making a shopping list. Ask them to pick some healthy foods they would like to have.
    • Encourage children to help with meal preparation. Very young children can rinse fruits and vegetables, pour ingredients, and mix. Older children can measure ingredients, cut soft foods with a table knife and use the microwave.
    • Keep meals simple. Spend time on one-dish casseroles or use convenience foods. Foods such as frozen vegetables, prepared foods and ready to cook meats save time.
    • Set a good example. Eat a variety of foods from the five food groups.
    • Turn off the TV and radio so everyone can focus on conversation. Share what happened during the day with each other.

    Remember that kids often take more time than adults, so relax and enjoy a few extra minutes sitting at the table before cleaning up. Even the after meal clean-up presents an opportunity for togetherness and teaches teamwork and life skills that the kids will take with them into adulthood. The time spent together as a family, the memories created, and the positive benefits to the health and well being of the kids are well worth the effort of making time for table time! Enjoy!