Sam's Discount Store

Next to our library is an international store called Sam's Discount Store. I have always been intrigued by this place because the sign boasts "International Food Market--Indian, Carribbian, Asian, Russian, Samoan, Mexican." Today I ventured in, because there was a new sign on the building that said "For Sale."
There were long rows of shelves, but most of them were sparsely stocked. They seemed to sell a huge variety of things. I saw Greeting cards, diapers, Du-rags, goblets, bras, cheap toys and even Spanish communion invitations. I even found a ceramic cow that you fill with baking soda to put in your fridge. However the food section was by far the most interesting.
Most of the cans and boxes were dusty. That's never a good sign. There were American foods, but I wanted to check out the international stuff, so I headed there first. First I saw a six-pack of plastic cups filled with bright orange sticky stuff, labelled "Lychee-mango pudding". It was not refrigerated, but vacuum packed like many Asian goodies. Then there was a bottle of coconut gelatin, but I don't like them in my bubble tea, so I didn't want to take any home. I saw pickled whole green chilis, salted achoivies, Paprika quarters made in Bulgaria and ginger nuts. I wanted to see if ginger nuts were actually nuts pickled in ginger, and if so, what type of nuts. Looking at the ingredient label on the bottle, the first thing I saw was "Enjoy by 2002". WHAT??? 4 year old food??? No wonder it was dusty!
Without even continuing to read the contents, I immediately put down the bottle and looked at the next item. Tamarind pulp, expires 6/05. Were these international people crazy? You can't sell OLD FOOD!!! But at Sam's Discount Store, you can.
I looked at a box of Turkish Delight--*side note: I've been wanting to find Turkish Delight for my kids since we saw Chronicles of Narnia and didn't know where to look*--so when I saw it in 3 flavors, I jumped at it! Then I looked for an expiration date. "Made in Turkey, Expiry: November 2003." Not gonna do it!
Corn Tea (which my hubby enjoys in many Korean restaurants), expires 12/05. Swazi Mamma Mamba, product of Africa, no expiration date, but the contents looked separated and the wire choker embellishment was covered in dust.
I went to the American food section hoping for more recent food. Harmony Trail Mix, expires 8/05. Key Lime Luna Bar, expires 5/03. Box of taco shells, no expiration date, but oil stains on the bottom and back of the box. In the frozen section, there were Deli Turkey Slices (usually not frozen in a regular store), in Sam's freezer, expires Nov 2005. Expired meat???? Yes, it's frozen, but when? And it's e-x-p-i-r-e-d. The place sold bottles of Giant Shrimp Fish sauce and canned mussels and shrimp pate' with no expiration date, but really, who would dare try it???
I wanted to do a full exploration for the oldest food, but I didn't have the time. I did notice that the milk products and potato chips were fresh, with expiration dates in the future. I also found Pappadums from India that didn't expire until 2008-**Thank you**-but the box had been opened and scotch-taped shut. Who needs haunted houses at Halloween when you can get a heckuva fright at Sam's Discount Store anytime---HORROR!!!! And no, the prices were not that good.
I walked out of the store wondering who did their grocery shopping there and if they were still on botulism treatments.