# Foods that nobody buys, even in a pandemic. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 24, 2020, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187 "2020-03-24T16:49:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/41 "2020-03-25T01:29:41Z")
Good, because my lovely wife can’t eat gluten or dairy (really–it’s not a preference, but a disability acquired as a consequence of a medical treatment). A lot of the items you’ve named are pretty much what she can eat. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/42 "2020-03-25T01:30:56Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Mentioned this in another thread. When I went to Kroger last Friday the canned vegetable aisle was mostly depleted except for many cans of artichoke hearts. If you were in the San Diego area, I would send my sister to that store! She uses them all the time. The Fareway down the street from has temporarily stocked the TP section with bottled water 😕, and is limiting paper products to 1 package per person. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/43 "2020-03-25T01:41:43Z")
From what I’ve seen online, chocolate hummus doesn’t seem to be moving off the shelves during these pandemic days. ---
**Author:** ![MollyCatherine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc79bd/32.png) [@MollyCatherine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MollyCatherine)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/44 "2020-03-25T01:47:39Z")
My store had paper towels available - as long as you wanted the brown, unbleached kind sold by the single roll. There was also a selection of St. Patrick’s themed baked goods marked down to half off. I guess no one was feeling festive. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/45 "2020-03-25T01:52:00Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I can’t remember who it was, or which one of the many threads it was posted in, but one Doper mentioned that she went to the store in hopes of finding her favorite guilty pleasure, vegetarian corn dogs. The frozen food section was picked bare, except for the untouched vegetarian foods. I have been vegetarian for over 25 years and too hoped that the stores would still be packed with typically vegetarian foods like meat substitutes, but no dice, two days ago when I was last buying groceries, the same scarceness like in almost everything else. ETA: I’ve still not decided if that’s a good sign or not. At least it shows that vegetarian food is not such an outside choice like 25 years ago- ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/46 "2020-03-25T02:09:14Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > For many it’s not the flavor, it’s the texture. Okra and tomatoes has all the appeal of a dish of bloody mucus… Aghhhh! Okra stewed with fresh corn kernels and onion and tomatoes is “Southern succotash.” I’m a lifelong Yankee, but I look forward to the summer harvest so I can make that shit. Goes great with BBQ, fried chicken, or panfried po’k chops. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/47 "2020-03-25T02:12:17Z")
My local store had all the $1 soups completely gone but the $2 Progresso and $3 Campbell’s Chunky fully stocked. Guess people literally just bought as many $1 cans as they could but balked at paying the extra $1 for quality. On the otherhand all Peanut Butter in the normal sized jars (16 ounce iirc) was still there but the bigger “family sized” jars were all out, so people are just buying peanut butter to horde and not immediately eat it seems. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/48 "2020-03-25T02:56:24Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I have been vegetarian for over 25 years and too hoped that the stores would still be packed with typically vegetarian foods like meat substitutes, but no dice, two days ago when I was last buying groceries, the same scarceness like in almost everything else. > > ETA: I’ve still not decided if that’s a good sign or not. At least it shows that vegetarian food is not such an outside choice like 25 years ago- I thought the same thing last week as I gazed longingly at the empty shelves where Morningstar Farms and Garde In products should have been. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/49 "2020-03-25T03:59:44Z")
Lots of canned crab meat on the otherwise bare shelves at my store. Was out of town, and managed to grab some chopped clams, however. Wee! Linguini with Clams! ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/50 "2020-03-25T04:35:33Z")
Chef Boyardee ravioli is weirdly easy to find here. It was my first choice when I started stocking up on canned food, because I remember liking it when I was twelve. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/51 "2020-03-25T05:08:07Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Last time I was out of the house for shopping, all the bread loaves were like dust in the wind … but the gluten-free remained. Nobody wants to eat that shit unless you really HAVE to. The bread man showed up at my store while I was there. He was mobbed. I asked if he was making a ton of money with all the OT he maybe was getting. He said he would if the fucking gubbment would stop taking it all in taxes. Poor guy. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/52 "2020-03-25T06:01:33Z")
I’ve been in about 6 grocery stores in the past month and the things I remember distinctly still being everywhere despite their aisle neighbors being completely out. 1. Chocolate milk 2. Canned Pineapple 3. Beyond Meat Burger Patties 4. Greek Yogurt 5. Gallons of Water 6. Plain White Bread 7. Oxy Power Degreaser (maybe because it doesn’t say Dish Soap on the label people got confused?) ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/53 "2020-03-25T07:04:19Z")
When the fifth horseman of the apocalypse, panic buying, hit here I was in a supermarket devoid of pasta other than fusilli and penne. What is most surprising to me is that, other than shape, they are all the same bloody thing. ---
**Author:** ![steepone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@steepone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steepone)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/54 "2020-03-25T07:11:34Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Over in the dry goods, 99% of the soap is gone. But nobody seems to be buying Dove. Personally, I prefer Ivory, but can anybody explain why Dove would be unpopular? Same here at my local supermarket, lots of Dove and bottles of Non-detergent body wash left, all other soap has been cleaned out ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/55 "2020-03-25T07:14:51Z")
The grocery store near me was cleared out of all canned fruits and veggies except for a pallet of canned corn that had clearly just arrived - and cheap, too! 69¢ a fan - all paper goods, and all kitty litter this morning. Most of the cat food was also gone. However, there was still quite a bit of canned dog food. ---
**Author:** ![AmyPang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/278dde/32.png) [@AmyPang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmyPang)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/56 "2020-03-25T07:30:27Z")
I won’t buy Okara even I’m starving…I hate its sticky nature and I do not another way to cook it despite deep-frying until its stickiness vanishes. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/57 "2020-03-25T07:31:09Z")
Nobody is buying home-brand kitchen wipes in my neck of the woods, but every Chux was gone. And couldn’t buy Salada crackers, but plenty of some weird small Premium crackers. I’m good though…still got butter and Vegemite. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Wrenching\_Spanners](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Wrenching\_Spanners](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenching_Spanners)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/58 "2020-03-25T08:25:13Z")
I walked down the wine aisle in Sainsbury’s in London on Saturday. It was almost completely cleared out except for the expensive brands, but for three exceptions: mulled wine, prosecco, and alcohol-free wine. Canned lager was also completely sold out, but bottled ales and craft beers were still available. Cream of chicken soup was completely gone along with many others, but cream of mushroom and lobster bisque were available. In the meat aisle, chicken and minced beef were sold out, but steaks were still available. Canned vegetables were mostly sold out including all the canned beans, but it seemed like nobody was touching the canned palm hearts. Except the one kind soul who apparently purchased a can and then dropped it into the store’s food bank donations box. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/59 "2020-03-25T09:41:14Z")
I made a trip to the local grocer yesterday with a list of maybe 6 items. They had toilet paper, paper towels, bread, meat. Jalapeno peppers (jarred)? Totally bare shelf. mmm ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187/60 "2020-03-25T10:57:58Z")
Regarding frozen broccoli, I’ll cook it in the steamer, the same way I do fresh broccoli, and I don’t really notice a difference. We inhale a lot of broccoli in this household. Around here, beef seems to disappear, but there’s lots of chicken to be had in the meat section. And lots of frozen fish steaks. I guess people love their dead cow. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-that-nobody-buys-even-in-a-pandemic/850187.md?page=4)