# Alton Brown question
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 4, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436 "2006-05-04T19:38:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/1 "2006-05-04T19:38:57Z")
There is probably a simple answer to this, but damned if I can think of it. On the show “Good Eats”, they have shown “AB” shopping at the local Kroger at least a dozen times. They sometimes even have a graphic \*\*telling \*\* you it is the Kroger in Alpharetta, GA or the like. All the products in the store are clearly Kroger brands. “AB” clearly puts these in his bascart, indicating he intends to purchase these to make his dish o’ the week. Why then, after they show him shopping at Kroger, buying things at Kroger, do they black out the Kroger label on the products once he pulls it out to use back home (a can of pineapple in the most recent example)?
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### Author:  [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/2 "2006-05-04T19:57:15Z")
> [@Wee Bairn](#):
>
> There is probably a simple answer to this, but damned if I can think of it. On the show “Good Eats”, they have shown “AB” shopping at the local Kroger at least a dozen times. They sometimes even have a graphic \*\*telling \*\* you it is the Kroger in Alpharetta, GA or the like. All the products in the store are clearly Kroger brands. “AB” clearly puts these in his bascart, indicating he intends to purchase these to make his dish o’ the week. Why then, after they show him shopping at Kroger, buying things at Kroger, do they black out the Kroger label on the products once he pulls it out to use back home (a can of pineapple in the most recent example)?
At a wild guess (I don’t watch the show) I’m going to bet that Kroger is sponsoring the show, but only partially. When it’s time to go into syndication they can just cut out the Kroger shopping segments and then they’re not giving Kroger free advertising.
How long are the Kroger segments? If it’s less than 2 minutes in a half-hour I’m looking even more right.
-Joe
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### Author:  [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2006, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/3 "2006-05-04T23:28:34Z")
It’s not just the Kroger products; no brand names are shown on _Good Eats_. I’m guessing this is to show one of two things. Either, “Any brand would work as well,” or “If you’d pay us, we’d show your label. How hard would that be?”
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### Author:  [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2006, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/4 "2006-05-05T01:14:37Z")
I’ve never noticed that, and I’m a devoted fan. I never, ever see brand names outside of the supermarket. Plus, it’s been seasons since Kroger’s been the store of choice. Seems that he only goes to the upscale, non-national places now, no?
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### Author:  [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/5 "2006-05-05T03:06:22Z")
Other grocery shops are also shown, like Whole Foods, for example.
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### Author:  [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2006, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/6 "2006-05-05T12:09:13Z")
> [@KarlGrenze](#):
>
> Other grocery shops are also shown, like Whole Foods, for example.
I have nothing to add beyond the fact that I shop regularly at both the Whole Foods and the Kroger shown on the show (I live about 3 miles away from the Kroger in fact) and I have yet to see Alton there. As I understand it, he actually lives in the Marietta area, which is not really near Alpharetta, and I do not recall seeing either store on any of the newer episodes anyway.
Can I tell you how much my bubble was burst to find out his sister and nephew aren’t really his sister and nephew? ☹
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### Author:  [@Jake4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake4)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2006, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/7 "2006-05-05T13:24:13Z")
I bet they do lots of late-night filming. The produce section is always completely stocked and immaculate. Pretty easy to get a few ringers walking around with carts to make it look like normal business hours.
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### Author:  [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2006, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/8 "2006-05-05T13:33:36Z")
I could understand if they showed no stores or products of any kind. But to announce he is in a Kroger store, and then to black out the Kroger name on the pineapple chunks seems odd. And I agree, AB does seem to now frequent Whole Foods instead of the “low class” Kroger chain. I am stunned that a grocery store of any kind outside of Paris has a 100 item olive bar for chrissakes!.
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### Author:  [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2006, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/9 "2006-05-05T13:39:51Z")
Wasn’t there a big fuss a year or two ago where he got accused of shoplifting in one of the grocery stores? Not on the show, of course, but in real life.
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### Author:  [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/10 "2006-05-05T15:40:29Z")
> [@SmackFu](#):
>
> Wasn’t there a big fuss a year or two ago where he got accused of shoplifting in one of the grocery stores? Not on the show, of course, but in real life.
Four years ago. Explains also why he no longer uses Krogers.
From Alton Brown’s blog, courtesy of Google cache:
> [@](#):
>
> Monday, March 11, 2002
>
> ```
> A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Powdered Milk
>
> After pouring over yogurt research for hours on end this Sunday, I finally got an idea that I could invest in: a fast, easy and delicious method for making yogurt from scratch. Experiments would be required.
>
> I threw my worthless hound in the truck and struck out for hardware – a few jars from the Container Store, a shiny new probe thermometer (Pyrex I might add – nice design) from BB&B and a secret weapon or two from Target. Then, I turned towards a quality mega-mart for software.
>
> Upon entering the market and snagging a hand basket I spied a Krispy Kreme display (strategically placed) featuring a food I have a tough time resisting: donut holes – Krispy Kreme donut holes. Since I hadn't eaten all day, their siren song was strong. Before I knew it a box was in my basket. Somewhere between the canned goods and the bakery, discipline and good manners dissolved in a puddle of lust and I cracked the carton and gobbled not one but two of the luscious nuggets. I could have done the entire box but that would have made an ugly scene.
>
> My hunger temporarily silenced, I returned to my research. The "natural" dairy case presented me with several half gallons of milk with varying fat contents and a couple of yogurts with culture counts high enough to use as starters. The last thing on my list was powdered milk so I cut up through soft drinks to get to the baking aisle. I only made it halfway up before spotting another guilty pleasure: Tab – the only soft drink I like (something about that saccharine aftertaste I guess). Since my hand basket runneth over I had to empty the contents and repack to make room for six pack.
>
> Five minutes later I finally gave up on the powdered milk and headed for the checkout. As soon as I settled up I was approached by what I thought to be a loyal GE fan wanting to chat about skirt steak or maybe the merits of tapioca as a thickener. Believe it or not, talking to people in markets is the best part of my job.
>
> But, before I could say "kosher salt" the rather large gentleman flashed a badge and "escorted" me to the managers office, where he made me feel even more at home by cuffing my hands behind my back. He then confronted me with my crime.
>
> The donut holes.
>
> I'd left the donut holes on the shelf in the soft drink aisle.
>
> I'd opened the box, eaten two of the holes and abandoned the rest.
>
> Busted – like Benjamin Bunny.
>
> I apologized profusely for my absent mindedness and stupidity. I tried to explain that I had been deep in thought, trying to work out a food experiment that was a bit over my head.
>
> The officer told me not to patronize him and asked me if I could make $500 bond. I told him that I wouldn't be able to get hold of that kind of cash until morning which seemed to amuse him a bit. As they ran a background check the store manager took the opportunity [to] lecture me on the evils of stealing. When I assured him that despite their deliciousness I had no intention of attempting to lift a two dollar box of donut holes, he just shook his head and said "It's not like we don't put out plenty of samples". With that he headed off into the store, perhaps to keep an eye on that toddler on aisle 3.
>
> As my captor and another, newly arrived officer conferred over my record (a couple of traffic tickets – no arrests) and my possible fate, I thought back to all the days I'd spent shooting scenes for Good Eats scenes in stores belonging to this chain. I thought about dropping names – I knew who the manager's boss was and his boss too, but I didn't. The way I figured it, it shouldn't have mattered. This could have happened to anyone – my mom for instance. I wondered if my daughter had been with me if they would have called family services.
>
> Forty five minutes later they decided to let me go. I really think it was the fact that I'd left my dog in the car that loosened them up. If they'd hauled me downtown there would have been a howling basset/beagle mix in the parking lot and that couldn't be good for business.
>
> Of course they took my picture for store records and made me sign a form saying that I understood that I had been given a criminal trespass warning and that if I ever set foot in that particular mega-mart again I would be arrested "on the spot". I assured the officer and the manager that they didn't have to worry about that one bit. I was then uncuffed and escorted downstairs where I was allowed to pay for my doughnut holes.
>
> In the end I know what happened was my own fault. After all, it was me who picked up the donut hole box. I knowingly opened said box and purposely ate two of them. I then "conveniently" left them on a shelf in the soft drink aisle. I also know that shoplifting is a serious issue to American retailers.
>
> But what if:
>
> What if a store employee had simply said, "Sir, you forgot your doughnut holes" and handed me the box before I had moved past the register and into custody? I would have been a thankful, happy customer. I have to think that this approach would have required a lot less of the store's manpower. They could have kept a loyal customer rather than losing one.
>
> So what did I learn? I learned to not assume that I live in a world where a person can make a simple mistake without getting his picture taken in cuffs for "the record". I learned that I don't like handcuffs. I learned that I'll have to find another grocery chain to shoot Good Eats in. And I learned that one should never, ever open a package of anything in a grocery store.
>
> The donut holes were great though.
>
> ```
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### Author:  [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2006, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/11 "2006-05-05T16:16:50Z")
That explains it! AB blocks out the Kroger label in new shows to not promote a store that detained him for theft. I would love to know if leaving the holes on the shelf was really “an accident”. From my days at a grocery, almost every thief we caught would pull out the old “why would I steal something that costs only two dollars” crap.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/12 "2006-05-05T16:33:36Z")
I’m amazed they were dense enough to not recognize him and draw some rather obvious conclusions about bad publicity, at least once they’d gotten their hands on his ID.
Maybe their store dick and manager don’t make enough money to have cable?
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### Author:  [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/13 "2006-05-05T17:34:27Z")
> [@Wee Bairn](#):
>
> I would love to know if leaving the holes on the shelf was really “an accident”. From my days at a grocery, almost every thief we caught would pull out the old “why would I steal something that costs only two dollars” crap.
Careful there. Besmirching the name of Alton around these here parts is a pittable offense.
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### Author:  [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2006, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/14 "2006-05-05T18:14:16Z")
It would have to be an accident. Who the hell would leave Krispy Kremes behind?
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### Author:  [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/15 "2006-05-05T18:21:56Z")
Don’t want to upset anyone, I am a fellow AB fan, but just the idea that he is famous and rich and therefore it is ludicrous to think he would steal is just not a good argument (c.f. Winona Ryder, et. al.). We had people steal Kool-Aid packs at the store I worked at, which cost ten cents each! To imply that special treatment should be afforded him, even if they knew who he was, is wrong on all levels. Mistakes happen, like Marge Simpson shoplifting some hilarious brand of whiskey, but it is security’s job to talk to the person and sort it out. The handcuffs were a bit much, though, but AB probably liked it (c.f. the hogtied pizza delivery boy in the backseat of his car in the pizza episode) 🙂
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### Author:  [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/16 "2006-05-05T18:35:22Z")
> [@Wee Bairn](#):
>
> That explains it! AB blocks out the Kroger label in new shows to not promote a store that detained him for theft. I would love to know if leaving the holes on the shelf was really “an accident”. From my days at a grocery, almost every thief we caught would pull out the old “why would I steal something that costs only two dollars” crap.
He doesn’t use Kroger anymore. I think you must be seeing old episodes.
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### Author:  [@Big\_Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Norse)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/17 "2006-05-05T20:11:35Z")
> [@AskNott](#):
>
> It’s not just the Kroger products; no brand names are shown on _Good Eats_. I’m guessing this is to show one of two things. Either, “Any brand would work as well,” or “If you’d pay us, we’d show your label. How hard would that be?”
I don’t know about the Kroger part of it, but I do know that they rarely show brand names on any of the Food Network shows. I saw a segment once about the guy who makes fake labels for the containers Rachel Ray pulls out. He laughed that they often get requests on where to find the brands, which don’t exist.
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### Author:  [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/18 "2006-05-05T20:50:58Z")
> [@Big\_Norse](#):
>
> I don’t know about the Kroger part of it, but I do know that they rarely show brand names on any of the Food Network shows. I saw a segment once about the guy who makes fake labels for the containers Rachel Ray pulls out. He laughed that they often get requests on where to find the brands, which don’t exist.
Wow. I’m too busy staring at Rachel Ray to notice what product brands she’s using.
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### Author:  [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/19 "2006-05-06T00:02:20Z")
He does this with Ritz crackers. He’ll show you the cracker, you know what it is, but he’ll say something like “I can’t tell you what crackers they are, but they look like this!” and wave the cracker in front of the camera.
Basically, they don’t want to give free advertising (Ooooh, AB uses Dole Green Beans in his recipe! I must use those and only those!) to those who don’t pay for it.
I have a question…at the end of the show, depending on when it was produced, the production company is either Means Street or Be Squared Production. What’s the difference?
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### Author:  [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2006, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alton-brown-question/355436/20 "2006-05-06T00:23:32Z")
Why doesn’t Kroger hunt down the assholes who leave dripping packages of raw meat on random shelves?
I have never eaten in a grocery, but I have drunk a Coke. In the checkout, I had to convince the cashier that she really did need to scan the empty bottle so I could pay for it.
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