decommodification of pre-packaged food

[mooserider]

There seems to be a conflict here. If one is providing commercially pre-packaged food as a gift (thereby avoiding the hassles of a food permit), how does one avoid the commodity brand labels? It's been years since the origins of the generic food craze when I could buy a case of beer where the can/bottle label just said "BEER" (note that stuff was bad enough that I'm not surprised no one wanted to put their name on it).

So how does one unbrand such commercially packaged food? Would you have to wrap blank labels over beer and soda cans so you can't see the brand name?

[bedlamdoll]

Maybe cover over the labels with blank labels that you write the general description over? "Peanuts," "trail mix," "Chocolate candies." I'd make sure you *don't* cover the ingredients listing, though, since people with allergies and such would want to look that over.

[Simon of the Playa]

what an interesting question.

since, i do know for a fact that a couple of beverage distributors in the past have "Gifted" large camps with excellent "Real Estate" and visibility large quantities of their product, on the hopes of flooding the playa with their brand, and hence, absorbing some of the precious, "cool factor"

i wont name names.

and it is multiple camps...

so...

anyway, where were we....yes, decommodification....

i think it is admirable that you would do this, and it is virtually impossible to go thru and "Generisize" all of the "product" you bring.

its the intention.....are you there to Shill Oreo's Brand or give them away, because you love Oreos, or M & M's or Marlboros or any "Branded" product (i just named a few i like, i am not on the keebler, or nabisco payroll)..

is someone in some corporate office somewhere making a decision to "gift" his / her "product" to the playa in hopes that it will be seen, in some kind of unofficial guerilla marketing campaign to help offset the cost of said camps? like Co-Op Dollars? if that is the case, they can go fuck themselves, and their "Product"...

we used to cover all signs on the rental trucks etc....or coolers that may have a brand name splashed across them...

now thats not even done, but it should be, god dammit.

i am a traditionalist in many ways, and this is one of them, but i think that for your purposes, it is not really necessary to sharpie marker over all of the labels of your food etc etc...

but thanks for thinking of us old tymee crusty fuckos who still remember way back when....

[mooserider]

I was just thinking about scenarios like:

"Hey, random stranger, thanks for helping me put up my shade structure! Would you like a beer?"

and not having a problem about some flaming label on the beer or soda can I pull out of the cooler.

I don't work for any food or beverage manufacturer or distributor. I'm just trying to find a way to be helpful and gifty without the complexities of having to comply with food establishment regulations (which would be a bit much for a solo camper; not sure if or how I might be involved with my local regional's camp yet). Not that I don't expect to be effectively following most of those regs in my personal camp kitchen anyway, just for safety, but having to set up a special hand-washing station when I have a bathroom sink in the RV seems a bit much, so I'd rather any food or drink gifting I did be able to fall under the exceptions for not requiring a full-bore commercial kitchen setup. And I like microbrewery beers, so I was figuring on packing a few cases of assortments with me, and I'd like to be able to tell the IPAs from the lagers from the stouts without having to open them first.

[Simon of the Playa]

and this is the point where i bid you adieu because you are WAY over-thinking this.

[Sham]

If you want to pass out Snickers or Twinkies, just do it and hope for a nice hug in return. People gift frozen ice cream novelties all the time. The name is always on them.

[Aurelia]

Quibbleing about what ?

are you sure you are a burner ?

xoA.

[Savannah]

I was just thinking about scenarios like:

"Hey, random stranger, thanks for helping me put up my shade structure! Would you like a beer?"

and not having a problem about some flaming label on the beer or soda can I pull out of the cooler.

This will not be a problem.

I don't work for any food or beverage manufacturer or distributor. I'm just trying to find a way to be helpful and gifty without the complexities of having to comply with food establishment regulations (which would be a bit much for a solo camper; not sure if or how I might be involved with my local regional's camp yet). Not that I don't expect to be effectively following most of those regs in my personal camp kitchen anyway, just for safety, but having to set up a special hand-washing station when I have a bathroom sink in the RV seems a bit much, so I'd rather any food or drink gifting I did be able to fall under the exceptions for not requiring a full-bore commercial kitchen setup. And I like microbrewery beers, so I was figuring on packing a few cases of assortments with me, and I'd like to be able to tell the IPAs from the lagers from the stouts without having to open them first.

If you are going to gift a large quantity of food to the general population, then you will definitely need a food permit. You sound like you've seen this.

http://blog.burningman.com/2013/08/news ... -kitchens/

But to share a little with the neighbors, a few campmates, or to someone who has just helped you or shared a moment with you--not at all. And I have never seen someone get cranky about a label on food--unless it was one of the aforementioned jerkass camps trying to promote a specific product. People get mad if there's a mass distribution by a vendor. Very different.

Simon was blunt, but he's correct.

[Elderberry]

I agree with both of Simon's posts.

[Captain Goddammit]

There's no need to be so ridiculous about it.
Just serve the stuff.

[Jovankat]

Can you open the packets of your prepackaged non-permit-requiring food and put it on a plate to serve or do you need a permit to do that?

[Eric]

I definitely agree with Simon - you are putting a whole lot of worry into nothing. Nobody will care if something has a label on it, just pass out whatever it is.

Can you open the packets of your prepackaged non-permit-requiring food and put it on a plate to serve or do you need a permit to do that?

From my understanding - no, you can't open it. You could probably give someone a disposable plate for them to put the food on, but once you've opened it, you're serving it, which triggers the health requirements.

[Jovankat]

That's silly but I guess you've got to draw the line somewhere.

Also it was a packet of Oreos I was imagining opening and putting on a plate but it's just occurred to me that Oreos have their name written on them anyway so vOv

Also now I want Oreos.

You don't even have to give the product away for free to promote it! Just mention it on ePlaya!

[Bless]

nom, nom, nom

[Elorrum]

in a unrelated subject: try an oreo s'more sometime, a shmeer of nutella is also a nice addition.

[digital]

in a unrelated subject: try an oreo s'more sometime, a shmeer of nutella is also a nice addition.

Amazingness. Oreos rule.

[Eric]

That's silly but I guess you've got to draw the line somewhere.

Not really - the idea behind prepackaged food being safe is that no-one has touched it since it was made. If you open it & put it on a plate, there is now a third party involved in the food, and it defeats the purpose of the "safe" packaging. I can easily come up with ways the food can become less safe if the gifter opens it, and most of them are not even ridiculous. I'm sure you can too if you think about it.

[digital]

Those rules keep disease at a minimum in the city. I for one am glad they are in place.

Surprisingly few people wash their hands out there. I don't need your buttjuice on my snacks, thank you.

(unless i ask of course)

[Lonesomebri]

Take a majik marker and on the pre-packaged food and beer write "sucks" under the label. Commodification package problem solved.

[Jovankat]

Paying $50, having an inspection and doing whatever you're meant to do with the test strip thingos to put some Oreos on a plate is definitely silly. And I say that as a germaphobe with a food hygiene qualification.

I can also think of ways that food could get contaminated when following all the regulations. Just because you can imagine the scenarios doesn't mean they're likely. The chances of something bad happening in my Oreo scenario are very slim but like I said the line has to be somewhere and whenever you have rules that cover a broad range of situations you're going to have some silliness.

[Simon of the Playa]

Those rules keep disease at a minimum in the city. I for one am glad they are in place.

Surprisingly few people wash their hands out there. I don't need your buttjuice on my snacks, thank you.

(unless i ask of course)

you've obviously never tasted my delicious ass burgers.

[media]

[digital]

you've obviously never tasted my delicious ass burgers.

Oh, I know all about your yummy yummy ass products. More please!

[media]

[Ugly Dougly]

The main reason that you don't need a permit to gift pre-packaged food it that the giftee can figure out what's in it.
If you "De-Commodify" your gift, then they may not know what they hell they are swallowing.
So is "De-commodification" really that important?

[Simon of the Playa]

If you "De-Commodify" your gift, then they may not know what they hell they are swallowing.

there is a great joke in there somewhere, i'm still working on it.

[Captain Goddammit]

If you're gonna worry about "anonifying" everything that much, I guess you'd better remove all the emblems from your vehicle before you drive in... don't forget to grind or sand the letting off your tires too.

[digital]

There was a post today on Burn.life with pictures from the original 1990 playa burn.
Guys in cargo pants, t-shirts, not giving two fucks.
People today are taking all this too seriously.
Just go, have fun, ignore the labels.

[Ugly Dougly]

After thinking this through briefly, my mega computer, Deep Thought, offered this response:
You go to Costco and buy a case of some pre-packaged factory-produced junk food (if that isn't a commodity then what is?), and you think that you can disguise it and keep it from becoming a commodity so you can give it away.

[Lonesomebri]

Well, that's taken care of.....

commodishit.JPG

[Wigwam]

This is a healthy and worthwhile discussion. I'm now going to contemate the subject to see if I can separate the intent from the word. I am also still committed to covering up the company name of my rental van. My bike. Anything that looks like an endorsement. I do enjoy the idea that this is *not* "Burning Man, brought to you by...."

[lucky420]

Well, that's taken care of.....

commodishit.JPG

Perfect!