9 Supermarket Secrets: What Your Grocer Wont Tell YouElizabeth Renter But, are you aware of all the many supermarket secrets that could be working against your physical and financial health aside from you feeling things like nasty effects of pesticides smothered on your produce? Selling food is a businessfrom the subsidized soy and corn producers to the shelf-space in the grocery stores. And like any business, the primary concern is making money. Here are just a few ways that many grocery stores put your health and your budget to the test. Over the past several years, containers and food packages have gotten smaller. Whether they are trying to make up for losses in a bad economy, or if its just greedfood manufacturers are selling you less and they are selling these smaller packages at the same price! Theyll shrink the product (but not the price) for a while and then when they add a few ounces back, they can market it as 20% more! That prepared food you buy from the deli comes off the shelves of the store, and they arent picking the freshest options. Instead, theyll choose the foods that are closest to their expiration date, saving themselves money. A better bet: cooking for yourself. 3. Eye-level Shelves are Prime Real Estate Food companies pay for product placement. The little-known companies and local food producers are often on the very top shelf or way down at floor level because they cant afford to be right in the middle, where companies pay a stiff price to be closer to your eyes and hands. Your grocer may be making their wares look more attractive with colored bulbs. In most cases this is actually against the law, but is reportedly difficult to enforce. Red lights over the meat counters or green lights over the vegetables can make the food look better and make you spend more. There are no restrictions on who can fumble through the produce section. But not only are you taking home produce thats been handled by other customers, it was put out there by store employees, the person who unpacked the box, and even the person who picked it. Theres no telling who has touched the produce or where their hands have been. So, if you need a snack and opt for something quick out of the produce department (smart thinking!), be certain you wash it thoroughlyeven if its organic. Other Supermarket Secrets You Probably Dont Know About Here are a few other supermarket secrets you probably dont know about: Additional Sources: Explore More: 