Salad dressings, Mayo and ketchup seem to be the worst for expiration dates. Which surprises me because those things generally have a really long shelf life. It seems nearly every bottle of salad dressing expires in a week.

I was in the Commissary today and noticed some brands of Whole Wheat pasta that I hadn't noticed before. Are they new, or have I just been overlooking them? If they are new, thank you for getting them!

Just to compare... I'm in Iwakuni and I don't recall EVER seeing an expired product on the shelves. I'm sure someone will weigh in with some such story, but it certainly doesn't seem to be much of a problem here. I thought all commissaries in Japan stock from the same warehouse. So how do you get all the expired products up there?

@eam: We've had whole wheat pasta for the 14 months that I've been here, so I know it's at least in the system. No idea of Yoko has been carrying it or not. We have lots of healthy foods in the 'kuni commissary.

They've been out of my Cat food for weeks =/ There's a place on the shelf but it's always full of some other version of it. I'm down to the bottom of the bag, I hope they've gotten it in, I hate having to switch food... grrr.

They did have a few of my yummy Jacobs coffee in recently- but it's all gone again. /cry Glad I still I have half a case from my trip to Yokota!

Yoko has had whole wheat pasta for a while, but no variety. They've only ever had spaghetti, fettuccine or lasagna noodles in whole wheat. Once last year they got in some multipacks that had three boxes each of penne and rotini, but once they were gone, they never got any more. I hope whatever you saw there, @eam was something other than the boring three and I can go buy a bunch of pasta. I've been hoarding the last bag of Trader Joe's WW penne my friend sent me.

The place looks fantastic! I am very pleased to see how much the commissary has improved over the last few months. Things are stocked, and well organized. I have also noticed that the quality of vegetables is getting a lot fresher.. Is it just me?

I actually bought some bananas the other day, and they were not BROWN after only 1 or 2 days!

The lettuce also looks much better. Whatever they are doing, please keep up the great work. Does anyone know if they are reading these comments?

Thank you for the positive comments, yes I do read this board, often! I have just found the box with my password cheat sheet so my apologies for not answering earlier questions.

Wedge, please take note, this has changed, 30 mins is OK, provided there's not a lot of patrons in the store. Yes, we do need time to count the money & the SCO's are indeed a pain!

Thank you YG! So far I really like it up here, I just thought I'd escape the heat leaving Okinawa, oh how wrong I was! Come on Autumn!

Posted By ThaiGuy on 27 Aug 2010 07:55 PM
Just to compare... I'm in Iwakuni and I don't recall EVER seeing an expired product on the shelves. I'm sure someone will weigh in with some such story, but it certainly doesn't seem to be much of a problem here. I thought all commissaries in Japan stock from the same warehouse. So how do you get all the expired products up there?

Iwakuni has its own distribution center that serves the stores in southern Japan. We are served by the Kanto Distribution Center. I met with the manager there two weeks ago, he's a good guy and working to make things better.

Posted By Tirani on 27 Aug 2010 09:04 PM
They've been out of my Cat food for weeks =/ There's a place on the shelf but it's always full of some other version of it. I'm down to the bottom of the bag, I hope they've gotten it in, I hate having to switch food... grrr.

They did have a few of my yummy Jacobs coffee in recently- but it's all gone again. /cry Glad I still I have half a case from my trip to Yokota!

Jacobs coffee, will do! What brand does fluffy want? I need to know these things!

Yamba - I assume you are the new manager. I was at the Commissary tonight, around 6:45. I noticed they started closing off the self check-out area and only allowed people on the left side. I can see why they might do this, being so close to secure time, however, there was a pretty big line forming. When I asked the employee running the area, a Japanese man, why he didn't open up the other line, he said, "Closed," without any further explanation in a grumpy attitude. What's up with that boss?

I have just found the box with my password cheat sheet so my apologies for not answering earlier questions.

Sorry about not sending you the password earlier..

Posted By Mike Applegate, MCPO, USN, Ret. on 29 Aug 2010 09:03 PM
Yamba - I assume you are the new manager. I was at the Commissary tonight, around 6:45. I noticed they started closing off the self check-out area and only allowed people on the left side. I can see why they might do this, being so close to secure time, however, there was a pretty big line forming. When I asked the employee running the area, a Japanese man, why he didn't open up the other line, he said, "Closed," without any further explanation in a grumpy attitude. What's up with that boss?

MC, The store closes at 1900 on Sundays. 15 mins isn't too bad. As for the "Grumpy attitude", no idea what's up with that. But I will look into it.

My family REALLY misses the "sandwich thins" that I started seeing in the US about a year ago. They are like little thin buns to hold your sandwich. My kids all hate bread, but we like these!

The fruit section is looking much better- more variety and the quality has been good. I had the best raspberries I've ever eaten a couple weeks ago. They were awesome. The prices have been reasonable too!

Yambarudan- I saw the Jacobs back on the shelf the other day Yippeee!

but the spot for Iams cat food is gone now. You carry Hairball and Weight Control Iams, but not the plain old regular variety. I'm hoping it's just a glitch in shipping and it'll be back soon (thought it's been well over a month). I'd really rather not buy the Hairball formula as it has so much extra unnecessary fiber which = more poop and really isn't that healthy because it puts a lot of strain on their kidneys.

Oh!  I love they have a section now of non-frozen chicken breasts! So many times I've wanted to cook chicken but didn't have time to thaw it out- now they're thawing it out for us.  I also heard a rumor (from one of the meat dept employees) that they will soon do a test run of real, fresh, not-pre-frozen chicken.  I can't wait!!! 

Tirani, I believe that IAMS is undergoing a changeout of their UPC's. We need to sell thru the old before we get in the new, I can check on that tomorrow for you. Chicken, fresh? Really? ;-) Shhhhh, it's a secret for now. Don't tell anyone!

Tirani, I'll do my best to buy up the Weight Control IAMS for my butterball kitty!

@Tirani, you will find fresh chicken in abundance off base, and at a very good price. We never buy chicken on base. Likewise with a variety of seafood.

yes, yes, I KNOW offbase has great fresh chicken. Unfortunately, I've usually got a car full of kids who are cranky or tired or acting up and adding another stop on the way home, or loading them all up to head the store is just a hassle. If I want fresh chicken I have been buying it off base, but it would be great to be able to buy it while I'm on base doing my regular shop- to at least have that option. I hate grocery shopping as it is (it ranks up there with shopping for a new bra)- I don't want to make 2 trips to 2 different stores! HAHA.