Many consumers find themselves cash-strapped as they deal with the aftermath of lingering inflation.
These days, living costs aren’t rising at quite as rapid a clip as they were a few years ago. But the toll of inflation has hurt a lot of people. And now, a growing number of consumers are changing how they spend their money.
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One big change has been a shift away from restaurants and takeout meals in favor of more grocery purchases.
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It’s not a secret that eating at home is cheaper than dining out. And many restaurants have been forced to raise their prices in response to cost increases.
Consumers who can’t afford the extra spending have adjusted their budgets to spend more on groceries. And many are taking steps to whittle down their supermarket costs, too.
Popular grocery chain issues shocking recall.
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Discount grocery stores are a lifeline for consumers
Many consumers who want to save money on food turn to warehouse club stores like Costco for the bulk discounts they offer.
The problem with shopping at a store like Costco, though, is the membership fee outlay.
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Costco charges $65 a year for a basic membership just to get in the door. When money is tight, that’s a fee some grocery shoppers can’t afford to shell out. And while it’s possible to get Sam’s Club access for just $50 a year, even that lower fee is beyond what a lot of people are willing to pay today.
That’s why consumers commonly turn to discount grocers like ALDI for big savings.
The bulk of ALDI’s products are private-label brands that commonly cost less than the national brands most consumers recognize. But shoppers who are willing to forgo fancy packaging can benefit in the form of big savings, even if it means taking a chance on an item that may be of lesser quality.
ALDI issues second product recall in less than a month
Last month, ALDI was forced to issue a recall on its Happy Farms Colby Jack Cheese after stainless steel fragments were found to have contaminated the product. Now, ALDI is issuing a second product recall for its fully cooked pork carnitas.
The issue seems to be similar this time around. The pork carnitas are being recalled due to “foreign material, specifically pieces of metal,” according to the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service.
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The recalled item is sold in a 16-oz package. The specific product description reads, “Pork Carnitas SEASONED & SEARED PORK WITH JUICES SLOW COOKED WITH CITRUS, READY TO SHRED.”
The pork carnitas, made by Cargill Meat Solutions, have a use-by date of June 30, 2025 or July 1, 2025. They also have the USDA mark of inspection number “Est. 46049” on the packaging.
When ALDI issued its recent cheese recall, it applied to products sold in Connecticut, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. This time around, the recall will impact ALDI shoppers throughout the country. Shoppers who purchased the product are advised to discard it or, better yet, return it to ALDI for a refund.
Thankfully, no injuries have been reported in conjunction with ALDI’s pork carnitas. The product was recalled after a routine check noted equipment damage that may have contaminated the products.
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The bad news, of course, is that this is ALDI’s second recall of this nature in short order.
Despite not carrying well-known brands, ALDI has long managed to maintain a loyal fan following, thanks to its often unbeatable prices. But if ALDI continues to experience issues with product quality, it could lose customers to traditional supermarket competitors. No amount of savings is worth the risk of ingesting metal in the course of a home-cooked meal.
