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Forum Archive Home Browse answers to Co-op shopper's questions, given by the Co-op's Education Department. Have a question? Ask us!

Co-op News Forum (August 2001 - present) November, 2001 Wheat Woes, Safety Seals, and more October, 2001 The Suggestion Box: A Tradition Since 1957 September, 2001 Perishable Storage Times, Why We Love Our Suggestion Box, and more August, 2001 Beet Greens, Haggis, Edamame, and rBST

Earlier Forum questions: Click on the links to read the entire question and answer for each topic. Allergy Concerns Would it be possible to remove the open barrel of peanuts from the produce area to another, more distant, place? My son is allergic to peanuts Aseptic Makes Me Dyspeptic I've started drinking soy milk recently, but I'm disturbed by the packaging. Are there any alternatives to the aseptic boxes? Back to Basics My family and I enjoy the new Co-op brand ice creams. We were wondering if you could also stock strawberry along with the other flavors. A Borlotti By Any Other Name… What are borlotti beans and do you carry them? Cheese Needs I am looking for rennet, an enzyme used in making cheese. Cigarettes and Kids I am an eighth grader who is very upset about your cigarette display (in the Hanover store). A Flour by Any Other Name What is the difference between graham flour and whole wheat flour? Frozen Food Facts How long will food stay frozen after it’s taken out of the freezer? GMO Labeling I wrote a letter to the FDA during their public comment period on the topic of labeling genetically engineered foods. Has the FDA responded yet? Healthier Pizza Dough Any chance that you could take out the partially hydrogenated oils from the Co-op frozen pizza dough? Herbal Remedy Smaller bunches of parsley would be appreciated. In a Jam I bought a jar of Side Hill Farm Homemade Strawberry Rhubarb Jam and when I opened it, the lid didn’t "pop" as it usually does on jam jars. In a Tare? I appreciate being able to buy just what I need from the bins of herbs in the Co-op's produce section. But is there any way you could supply some smaller (lighter) bags for this purpose? A Little Help for My Friends? I’m hoping you might be able to help me with a wine delivery to friends who live in Hanover. Not so Lunchable There was a time when the Co-op refused to carry Oscar Mayer Lunchables because they weren’t good for kids to eat. Not-So-Happy Returns I have just been reading "You Asked" Forum in the August issue of the Co-op News and am upset and annoyed with your answer to the question about the jar of Side Hill Farm Homemade Strawberry Rhubarb Jam Orange You Glad You Asked? The past month I've bought two bags of juice oranges with a disappointing result. Is there some guide as to when to avoid juice orange purchases that you can recommend? Organic Under Attack The Junkscience.com web site is encouraging visitors to write to the USDA denouncing organics as merely a marketing tool. A recent editorial in The Union Leader scoffs at organic produce. Are these valid claims? Pappadum Preparation Pointers I purchased some pappadum (papad) at the Co-op, but found that there were no preparation instructions in the package. A Pear of Another Color I’m interested to know if unripe fruit like pears would be safe to eat. Perplexed by Plastic Why do recycling centers only accept plastic containers with necks? Playing Tag I remember when the Co-op used to hang little cards on the shelves giving shoppers information about things like dolphin-free tuna and cosmetics tested on animals. Potlucks How about local/organic potlucks? Reduce, Rinse, Reuse Can you accept Stonyfield yogurt containers for recycling? Sticker Shock? Please label local foods (VT and NH) so that we can find them! The Ultimate Functional Food Can you get green tea ice cream? Using Functional Foods After reading in the Co-op newsletter about the benefits of the plant enzyme in Take Control and Benecol, I began using them instead of butter. Water Process, Demystified Is there any health risk associated with decaffeinated teas, as there is with some decaffeinated coffees? Also, some Equal Exchange coffees are "naturally decaffeinated with CO2," Is that the same as "water processed?" We Wish We Could… Please label local food products and produce! What do you think about designating a section of the Co-op for non-genetically engineered products?