5 things: You can be my bagger anytime

Did he get a name tag, too? Our next guest has bagged groceries at a local Hy-Vee and also hosted his own late-night show for decades. Here he is…David Letterman. Yes, Letterman did indeed work at an Iowa Hy-Vee recently, and he was his quirky self. Letterman actually worked at a grocery store in the Indianapolis area during his younger days, and he started the Hy-Vee day off by helping wipe up floors and announcing that celery was free for the day over the store’s intercom system. He also helped stock soup, but not before he took a small break by cracking open one of the cans and sampling the deliciousness. Letterman politely offered sipping samples to the workers, who obliged. I mean, who in their right mind could put a hand up to the late night legend? Letterman was in town for the Hy-Vee IndyCar race (the Rahal Letterman Lanigan racing team was a participant) and thought it was a good idea to pass the time in the Hy-Vee aisles. I’m sure if he ever needs a job, Hy-Vee has one for him. —Bill Wilson

Cheesy TikTok obsession: Over 70,000 Aldi fans have spoken to officially crown their product faves for 2023. Now in its fifth year, the survey results showcased more than a dozen pantry staples that are also telling of what’s trending this year in grocery. For example, in its “TikTok Made Me Buy It” category, fans voted for Friendly Farms Cottage Cheese. In fact, dairy products claimed the top spot in five out of the 13 categories for Aldi: i.e., Greek yogurt, string cheese, ice cream, and more (mozzarella) cheese. A fan fave since the survey’s inception, Mama Cozzi's Pizza Kitchen Take and Bake Deli Pizza, confirms the need for good, easy, and quick food in the “Ready When You Are” category. But the real winner is…Aldi. The discount grocer has managed to draw attention with many of the top choices fueled by social media resulting in a cheesy TikTok obsession that increased its cottage cheese sales by 14%. Winner, winner [Kirkwood Fresh] chicken dinner. —Alarice Rajagopal

Pass on the chicken: Rotisserie chicken is a staple at places like Sam’s Club and Costco. However, some people who have dug into Costco’s chicken-to-go have regretted it lately. Shoppers are complaining about stomach and other intestinal issues after eating the rotisserie. The problem went mainstream when celeb chef David Chen called it the worst of its kind. During one of his podcasts, Chen slammed the chicken for having no seasoning, and that it tasted worse as a leftover. Reddit users have joined into the fray, claiming they taste chemical as the main seasoning. Carrageenan is an additive that is commonly used with the chicken and is known to cause bloating, cramps, and, ahem, other symptoms that require some serious potty time. Some say there just might be a bad batch floating around, but please, Costco, do not tamper with your hot dogs…those effin’ hot dogs!—BW

H-E-B’s quest for the best: Over 21 hours of video for 632 of the most creative and innovative products produced by entrepreneurs representing 132 cities across Texas have been reviewed by H-E-B business development managers in its “Quest for Texas Best.” Over the span of a decade, nearly 1,000 food items, beverages, and general merchandise have made it to H-E-B shelves through this competition. So far, the grocer has selected 10 products that have made the final cut. The next phase includes a panel of judges to narrow down the top 10 to four winning products. Those top four will receive various cash awards, and the grand prize winner also claims the title of "Texas Best." The top product will be placed on store shelves, however, the winners will not be announced until Aug. 9 at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. Until then, H-E-B asks for a “drum roll, please.” —AR

Dressed in plastic: Apparently Walmart is moving away from a friend of recycling — cardboard — and is now packaging its pasta in single-use plastic. The Earth Day supporters were out in force on Reddit, slamming the retailer for the change. “You would hope the swap would be the other way [to cardboard],” said one poster, while another claimed, “We are heading in the wrong direction.” However, another poster had a perfect explanation, and he or she claimed they worked in packaging for Walmart. Apparently the reason for plastic is because, according to the Walmart packager, there has been intermittent paper shortages since the COVID-19 pandemic. Turning to the plastic allows the retailer to save a few pennies, and during this time of inflation can’t we all appreciate that? Perhaps the change is only temporary? Sometimes going green costs more green. —BW