MARTIN SLOANE | Supermarket Shopper The year was filled with challenges

My column surprised many people when it first appeared in newspapers. The supermarket industry was not pleased. Someone writing about supermarkets for consumers might spotlight things they don't want to see in print. They were right.
Now, as 2003 comes to an end, here is a look at how that challenge was met this year:
UEarly this year, problems with inferior and mislabeled tuna boiled over and this column was a sounding board for consumer frustration. Chunk light tuna, a mainstay for budget-conscious shoppers, was no longer chunk. My readers described bits and pieces that looked like they came out of a shredding machine. This "mushy" tuna certainly did not meet Food and Drug Administration labeling requirements. We woke up at least one of the major tuna companies and there is reason to believe quality will improve.
UGrocery product downsizing was a real problem for budget-challenged shoppers. All too often, consumers do not realize that suddenly there is less product inside the box or bottle. And, all too often, the shelf price remains the same. Hundreds of downsizings this year, including frequently used products like Luvs and Pampers. My readers raged when Dannon went from an 8-ounce cup to a far less satisfying 6-ounce size.
UWhile I joined with my readers in getting their complaints heard by Dannon, this column praised Dannon, Kellogg's and other manufacturers who sponsored the Race For the Cure and other important causes. If every brand on every supermarket shelf gave back to the community as these companies have, our nation would be the better for it. Writing this column allowed me to do something worthwhile for the families of our servicemen and women stationed overseas. This year, my readers joined in my "Lend a Helping Hand!" program, sending millions of grocery coupons to bases around the world.
UWhile I am not Dear Abby, I am a supermarket advice columnist, and sometimes shopping issues get personal. I advised a cashier who complained about customers who smelled and a shopper searching for a friend to share "Buy-2" coupons. This year I warned readers who are confronted by unpleasant situations at the checkout to stay out of trouble and avoid becoming involved in what I call "Cart Rage."
UMany readers complained bitterly about issues like self-scanning and frequent shopper clubs. Why should they have to scan products themselves when they are paying for the service of cashiers? Why should they run the risk of a loss of privacy to get the best prices? It's my job to explain the reality of these situations, which may not be easy to swallow. For example, self-checkout is spreading throughout the supermarket industry and so are the customer clubs requiring plastic cards. I urged my readers to recognize more important challenges: To keep the pressure on supermarkets so they will continue to have enough cashiers on duty for shoppers who do not feel comfortable with self-scanning. To raise awareness that supermarkets who share the personal information they compile for customer clubs are violating a sacred trust.
UThis column works for my readers because it gives them some unusual opportunities, such as thanking their supermarkets and store associations with "Golden Shopping Cart Awards." If you have not sent in your nomination for 2003, do it soon. This is also the home of the annual "Supermarket Shopper Poetry Competition," where supermarket shoppers put their feelings into verse.
UHelping shoppers save money is one of the things I enjoy most about writing this column. Each week I go through my mail and select the recipient of my Smart Shopping Award. These Smart Shoppers are positive proof to the savings that every reader can achieve playing The Great Grocery Game.
UThis column alerted readers of the attempt by the Bush Administration to permanently change the meaning of the "dolphin safe" label. So far, the courts have prevented this. Unfortunately, I recently reported that the fresh food Country of Origin Labeling rules (COOL) that were to go into effect next September have been delayed for two years by a Congress unwilling to fund USDA enforcement.
Making sure that we know where our produce and other fresh food comes from is still unfinished business. Similarly, getting supermarkets to recognize that dangerous germs can lay in wait on their shopping carts is a serious health issue.
Supermarkets must come to grips with this problem and shoppers need to push their supermarkets in the right direction.
As 2004 approaches, I will tell you more about the challenges that lay in front of us in the year ahead. My wonderful readers and their participation in this column keep it interesting and a source of useful information for shoppers. I want to thank each reader for your interest and support.
XSend questions and comments to Martin Sloane in care of The Vindicator. The volume of mail precludes individual replies to every letter, but Martin Sloane will respond to letters of general interest in the column.
United Feature Syndicate