Why is trader joes bad

A catalog? A comic-book? Yes, yes, and perhaps even yes! Informative, yes, but we mostly read it because it's hilarious. The pages are filled with old-timey cartoons with witty captions, and the product descriptions have more cringe-worthy puns than you thought possible in a page publication.

Their corn salsa is an "a-maizing" condiment? Yeah, that's so bad it's good. Add in some weird comics and off-the-wall humor, and you'll find yourself craving a line just to take the time to read the thing cover to cover.

You can also subscribe to get the newsletter sent to your email, but then you won't have any reading material to keep you company in line. Opting for private-label products is one of the easiest ways to save money at the grocery store , and you don't have to sacrifice quality when you shop at TJ's: Big brand suppliers may make some of these private-label products. In , Fortune suggested that Trader Joe's pita chips were made by Stacy's, and that Stonyfield Farm supplied much of the yogurt on the east coast.

Eater took things one step further and used the Freedom of Information Act to request recall information that mentioned Trader Joe's by name. Of course, big brands wouldn't want you to know that you can pick up their food for less at Trader Joe's, so it's unlikely any of these comparisons will ever be confirmed. Even the former VP of marketing, Mark Gardiner, told Eater that he was in the dark about who made the brand's most popular products. It's a secret agreement, and no one is allowed to talk about the product's suppliers.

Trader Joe's doesn't market themselves as a Whole Foods or a gourmet market, but it kind of is. The low-key grocery store has been selling wine since the 's, and their successful low-cost formula has allowed them to offer affordable versions of gourmet cheeses, specialty nuts, and exotic frozen meals. Many of these products would have been considered gourmet at the time they arrived, and Trader Joe's continues to stay a step ahead of food trends by offering innovative new products each year.

According to the FAQs on their website, their private label brands contain high-quality ingredients, too. Their labels may not say "GMO-free" on the product because U. They also claim to sell "approximately four times more organic products than a typical grocery store," and their organic options can be less expensive than conventional options. If you're just looking to stock up the freezer, pantry, and liquor cabinet, Trader Joe's can be a one-stop-shop.

Unfortunately, it doesn't have everything you'll find in a normal grocery store. That means if you're looking for necessities — like toothpicks , diapers, corn starch, or aluminum foil — you'll have to make a stop at another store while you're out. You also won't find all the choices of brand variety that you may be accustomed to. That can be a good thing. After all, who really wants to compare the ingredients and price on 12 different brands of ketchup?

They do this on purpose so you can rest assured that they tried it, they liked it, and they trust that you don't need any other options. In some ways, that level of confidence is comforting, but if you're expecting to have product variety, you might want to realign your expectations before you walk in the door.

No trip to Trader Joe's is complete without a stop by the alcohol aisle. When founder Joe Coulombe opened the first Trader Joe's in , his vision was to create a neighborhood grocery store with a great wine selection. Today, that selection has expanded to beer and spirits, too, depending on the state's liquor laws.

If you're lucky enough to live in a state where you can shop all three, you'll find an excellent selection of usually inexpensive options.

They're most famous for their Two Buck Chuck , a super-value priced Charles Shaw wine available in a variety of red and white varietals.

When it comes to beer, the Chicago Tribune reports that Trader Joe's beers are often brewed by award-winning breweries. It's no longer in production, but for a long time they had a very affordable Mission St. Pale Ale, which brewed by Firestone Walker. The beer actually won a few medals at Great American Beer Festival.

Make sure to ask questions before you put these items in the cart, though, because sometimes the alcohol isn't covered in their return policy. When you're looking at things you should and shouldn't buy at Trader Joe's , the produce section is pretty polarizing. On the one hand, their organic produce is usually less expensive or comparable with other grocery stores, according to The Kitchn. Unfortunately, it's not always packaged in a way that makes sense. As Kiplinger points out, a lot of Trader Joe's produce is prepackaged, making it impossible for you to choose how much you want to buy.

Next time you hit up Trader Joe's, here are 17 items to avoid. We love gummy bears and chocolate bars so, in theory, these should be our new favorite sweet snack. But we regret to inform you that when these two delicious candies are combined, the taste is strange at best and gross at worst. Get gummy bears or chocolate bars or both! Ever wonder how foods that are as creative and unique as this can be so affordable at Trader Joe's?

The overnight oats taste perfectly fine, but it's one of the few items at Trader Joe's that are simply not great deals. Right after a trip to TJ's, we made sandwiches with the brioche rolls and they were delicious—so imagine our disappointment when we discovered they became moldy within 24 hours.

According to many Reddit users, this is a problem with most of the bread options at the store. However, you don't need to write off all bread at TJ's—just store it in the refrigerator and it'll last for a reasonable amount of time. Trader Joe's almond butter is tasty, but it's not the best deal around.

It's also quick, easy, and affordable to make it yourself. Adding a cheesesteak filling to traditional Chinese bao buns is an interesting concept, but there's a reason it hasn't been done before. These are two foods that should stay separate. To boot, many shoppers say that Trader Joe's milk spoils almost immediately. A TJ's employee tells us that the store's milk is pasteurized once, while other stores pasteurize milk multiple times.

That may result in a fresher glass, but if you can't finish the whole carton in time, you're better off shopping elsewhere. Truffle flavor can be pretty overwhelming, which is why it tends to come in small doses. This cheese has way too strong a truffle flavor, even for lovers of the expensive fungus. The premade sandwiches at Trader Joe's look enticing, but we tried several options and the consensus was that they're both bland and dry.

The premade wraps have the exact same taste problem, so it's safe to say this isn't a good lunch option. Many people assume that a label with splashy "dairy-free!

It's just broccoli! With eggs! It has to be good for you! This quiche packs in calories and 15 grams of saturated fat practically an entire day's worth! For vegetarians looking for a fast and satisfying dinner, these Fully Cooked Falafels are great, at least when it comes to taste.

But even more despicable is the amount of sodium. Oh, and did I mention that the serving size is only three pieces? All of those veggies have got to make this one a pretty decent option, right? Eat this one sparingly. This is candy, so of course no one is assuming it's good for you. But the addition of peanuts may lead you to believe it's not too bad. Take note: organic does not always mean healthy. Basically, these really are just fruit-flavored, with no actual fruit. You're better off with dried real fruit instead.

A burger is a burger, right? Hickey tells Delish that the ingredients in these frozen patties are "horrible. Sure, that doesn't seem too harmless right? But these numbers don't take into account the percentages of the fats in comparison to daily recommended values.

That's as much fat as two burgers form Burger King. The term "fresh squeezed" makes this drink seem a lot healthier than it actually is. That's a lot of sugar for a beverage, making this more like juice. If you need a lemony fix, try squeezing actual fresh lemon into your water.

Pita chips are often thought of as a better chip than potato chips, but that's really only if you're making them yourself and baking them.

A ready-to-go flavored canned coffee is delicious and easy to grab while you're having a busy morning. If you're going to get this, though, you may want to opt for the unflavored option. A plant-based option may seem preferable to a red meat option, but the ingredients really matter, and these don't exactly cut it. Rizzo notes that while these are low in carbs and sugar, which is great, the protein amount could be better and she doesn't love the addition of caramel coloring. Snacking on rice seems like a better alternative to, say, potato chips or cheese curls, but in this case, that's a hard no.

If you want something salty and crunchy, I'd recommend some of Trader Joes raw nut mix and sprinkle some sea salt on top! Think of these plant based burgers as Trader Joe's version of vegan veggie burgers. That sounds healthy right off the bat, but these miss the mark.