Supermarket Sampler column will be missed

By Valerie Phillips, Deseret News

(This is reprinted of Valerie Philips column from the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, UT – one of the newspapers that carried the syndicated column Supermarket Sampler. Valerie Phillips of Kaysville writes about food topics for the Deseret News, and blogs at www.chewandchat.blogspot.com. She was the Deseret News food editor from 2000-2010, worked at the Standard-Examiner from 1988-2000…   – bonnie)

Bonnie Tandy Leblang, left, and Carolyn Wyman began their syndicated column in 1987. Bonnie Tandy Leblang, left, and Carolyn Wyman began their syndicated column in 1987. (Universall Press Syndicate)

You might be wondering why this week’s Food section doesn’t carry a Supermarket Sampler column. Those who missed their last column on April 11 might not realize that the authors, Carolyn Wyman and Bonnie Tandy LeBlang, decided it was time to hang it up after 25 years.

Bonnie and I both attended the Pillsbury Bake-Off a few weeks ago, where she shared the news with me. I was disappointed.

The column was a part of the Standard-Examiner’s Food section when I was its food editor, and when I became the Deseret News food editor I encouraged management to begin running it. With so many new food products coming to supermarkets, it’s nice to have someone road test them for taste, nutrition and ease of preparation before spending your money on them. I enjoyed reading their bantering style, with Carolyn writing from the junk-food junkie’s viewpoint, and Bonnie writing as a dietitian.

While it’s true that many of the products they wrote about were highly processed, others were “real” food with innovative packaging, such as the first bagged salads.

“In some ways I’m sad, and in many ways I’m glad to change my routine after 25 years,” said Bonnie, who is a registered dietitian. “I’m looking forward to turning off my full-size freezer that’s been stuffed with highly processed foods waiting to be tested, and eating only real food again.”

She said she’s also looking forward to being able to take a trip without scurrying to write her weekly column ahead of time.

“In the quarter century that this column has been syndicated, we never missed our weekly deadline and never re-purposed old columns,” she pointed out. “We did the writing through births, family deaths, divorce, surgeries, vacations, moves … life. It’s time for a rest.”

….. to read Valerie’s full story click here.