"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

>> Jonathan: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHT, FIGHTING FOOD INFLATION, WHICH GROCERY STORES HAVE THE BEST DEALS.

WE WILL FIND OUT.

BUT WE BEGIN TONIGHT BY TALKING ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.

JOINING US IS DR. GREG SHRANK, ASSOCIATE HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER AND ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

DOCTOR, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU HERE IN PERSON AGAIN.

YOU WERE ONE OF THE VERY LAST IN-PERSON PEOPLE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC ZOOM ERA STARTED.

YOU'RE DOING WELL, I SEE SCHANCHTS I AM AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU AS WELL IN PERSON DEAN, JEFF.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jonathan: HOW CAN WE EXPLAIN THE SETUP IN STERPS OF SPHROIRT SPRIERSZ?

WE'VE STILL GOT COVID, WE HAVE THE FLU AND WE HAVE RSV.

>> Dr. Schrank: HOW I THINK I CAN DESCRIBE THE CURRENT SITUATION IS WEI WE HAD A BASELINE LEVEL, A FAIR A COVID CIRCULATING, AND THEN WHAT WE'VE BEEN CON CONFRONTED WITH EARLIER THAN THAN A USUAL RESPIRATORY SEASON A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES, NAMELY,.

>> Renee:SV AND INFLUENZA AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST THAT ARE ADDING A WHOLE ADDITIONAL BURDEN OF DISEASE TO THE COMMUNITY, SOME OF WHICH IS THEN ALSO SPILLING OVER INTO HOSPITALIZATIONS AS WELL.

>> Jonathan: RSV IS D. >> Jonathan: >> PRIMARILY FOCUSED OR MORE SERIOUS FOR VERY LITTLE IT IS KIDS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT STANDS FOR RESPIRATORY INTERSTITIAL VIRUS.

AT LEAST PRIOR TO THE COVID-19 PM.

ALMOST EVERY CHILD WOULD BE INFECTED WITH THE VIRUS BEFORE THE AGE OF TWO.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF YEARS GOING BACK THE 2019 WITH ALMOST NONE CIRCUMSTANCE ADDICT, LATING, WITH VERY LITTLE SNIEWM INFLUENZA.

WITH THE ONSET OF WINTER WE'RE SEEING THEM WITH WANING IMMUNITY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FLU.

WE HAD A U CAN YEARS WHEN EVERYBODY WAS BEING REALLY CAREFUL ABOUT VIRUSES AND SO FORTH.

WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A FROM YOU FLU SEASON.

THE MAP FROM THE CDC, THAT THEY UPDATE EVERY WEEK THAT SHOWS LIKE A COLOR HEAT MAP HOW SEVERE THE FLU IS, YOU CAN SEE ON THIS PICTURE, I MEAN, THE SOUTHERN STATES AND CREEPING UP THE EASTERN SEABOARD AND INCLUDING MARYLAND, IT'S A VERY HIGH LEVEL AT THE MOMENT.

ARE YOU SEEING THAT?

>> WE ARE, IN FACT.

AND THE GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION THAT YOU'RE EEG SEEING ON THE MAP IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR THE EARLY PART OF FLU SEASON STARTING IN THE SOUTHEAST AND MOVING UP THE COAST.

WHAT I THINK IS UNUSUAL ABOUT 2022 IS THAT NOT ON HAVE WE NOT SEEN MUCH INFLUENZA FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, SO THIS IS REALLY A STARK CHANGE FOR US, BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEING THE WAIF, EPIDEMIC WAVE AS IT'S CALLED OF INFLUENZA BEGINNING ALMOST TWO MONTHS EARLIER THAN WE TYPICALLY SEE, AT LEAST HERE IN MARYLAND.

AND IT'S COMING, AS I SAID, ALONG WITH A WHOLE HOST OF THEY ARE RESPIRATORY VIRUSES THAT IS REALLY ALL RETURNING WITH A VENGEANCE.

>> I SAW THAT MAP, A VERSION OF IT FROM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

IT WAS A LITTLE LESS ADVANCED.

SAW IT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND RAN OUT AND GOT A FLU SHOT.

IS THAT THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE SEEING FLU CASES RISING RIGHT NOW, IT IS WITHOUT A POUT DOUBT NOT TOO LATE TO GET YOUR FLU SHOT, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE OVER THE AGE OF 65 OR WHO HAVE MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT PUT THEM AT GREATER RISK.

MANY OF THOSE MEDICAL CONDITIONS ARE THE SAME ONES THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT PLACE YOU AT HIGHER RISK FOR COMPLICATIONS FROM COVID-19, SO GO OUT AND GET YOUR FLU SHOT AND MAKE SURE TO GET YOUR COVID BOOSTER ALONG WITH IT.

>> YOU CAN DO IT AT THE SAME TIME.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> I WAS RELUCTANT.

I DID THEM SEQUENTIALLY LIKE A WEEK APART.

>> AND THAT'S OKAY AS WELL.

WHATEVER YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.

BOTH MAY LEAD TO SOME SIDE EFFECTS, A LITTLE BIT OF FATIGUE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE COVID BOOSTERS WE KNOW SOMETIMES THERE CAN BE SOME FEEFER FEVER SORRY SORENESS BUT IT IS SAFE TO RECEIVE THEM BOTH AT THE SAME TIME, AND I THINK AS WE'RE SEEING INFLUENZA REALLY STARTING TO TAKE OFF RIGHT NOW, I WE ABSOLUTELY ALMOST RECOMMEND NOT WAITING ON EITHER ONE.

>> Jonathan: LET ME REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE DOCTOR ABOUT ANY OF RAMPANT GIVE US A CALL TO THEG- NUMBER ON THE SCREEN OR YOU CAN EMAIL AS YOU LIVE QUESTIONS@MPT.ORG.

YOU MENTION AGE 65 FOR THE FLU SHOT.

WHAT CHASING AT AGE 65?

>> WELL, I THINK THE RISK FOR COMPLICATIONS FROM INFLUENZA IS INCREASED IN THAT OLDER AGE GROUP.

AND WITH REGARDS TO THE VACCINE, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR OLDER NEIGHBORS TO REMEMBER, IS WHEN YOU'RE GETTING YOUR VACCINE, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PROVIDER, YOUR PHARMACIST KNOWS TO GIVE YOU THE VACCINE SPECIFICALLY THAT'S SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FORE OLDER ADULTS.

THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT VERSIONS, ONE OF WHICH IS A HIGHER DOSE TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE REALLY MAXIMIZING YOUR IMMUNE RESPONSE.

THE OTHER FORMULATION COMES WITH BOOFS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AS WELL.

EITHER ONE IS PERFECTLY FINE BUT THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TO OLDER ADULTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PROTECTED DURING INFLUENZA SEASON AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.

>> HOW DO WE KNOW, LIKE IF -- ESPECIALLY BIG FAMILY GET-TOGETHERS, OFFICE GET-TOGETHERS, GOING TO BE A LOT OF MING PANDEMIC PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET SICK.

I MEAN, IT'S HOW WE SPREAD STUFF.

BUT HOW IS SOMEONE GOING TO DOUGH WHAT THEY HAVE IN YEAR WHEN IT'S NOT JUST COVID THAT'S FLOATING AROUND?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I THINK WE'VE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO ANY COUGH OR ANY FEVER AS COVID UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE MUCH DIFFERENT THIS SEASON.

THERE'S A LOT OF OVERLAP BETWEEN THE SYMPTOMS THAT ALL OF DIFFERENT RESPIRATORY VIRUSES CIRCULATING CAUSE MANY OF THEM WILL LEAD TO FEVER.

MANY WILL LEAD TO COUGH OR SORE THROAT.

THE BEST WAY TO FIND OUT IS BY GETTING TESTED.

THOUGH THE TESTS THAT COULD DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN RSV, FLU, COVID, MOST OF THOSE ARE ONLY AVAILABLE AT A MEDICAL PROVIDER OR LIKE AN URGENT CARE OR AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OR YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR.

>> A VIEWER QUESTION.

A VIEWER WANT TO KNOW WOULD YOU RECOMMEND CONTINUING TO WEAR OR RETURNING TO WEAR MASKS TO PREVENT COVID AND OTHER ILLNESSES.

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON MASKS?

>> I THINK THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT MASKS OVER THE COURSE OF PANDEMIC HAVEN'T CHANGED AT WU AT ALL.

ONE IS THAT WE KNOW THAT THEY CONTAIN INFECTION WHEN THE PERSON WHO IS INFECTED IS WEARING ONE.

THE SECOND THING IS WE KNOW THAT ESPECIALLY A WELL FITTING MASK, ONE THAT'S MULTIPLE LAYERS, PROTECTS SOMEBODY WHO IS WELL AND IS WEARING IT AND IS EXPOSED TO A VIRUS.

AND THE LAST THING IS THAT MASKS DON'T CARE WHAT VIRUS IT ENCOUNTERED COUNTERS.

THEY REALLY DON'T.

IF YOU'RE WEARING A WELL-FITTING HIGH-QUALITY MASK, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER IT'S FLU, RSV OR COVID, IT WILL HELP PROTECT THE WEARER.

SO FOR ME PERSONALLY ESPECIALLY KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON IF I'M GOING INTO A VERY PUBLIC CROWDED SEGHTD.

I WEAR A MAC.

THE I'M GOING TO THE AQUARIUM DOWN AT THE INNER HARBOR I'LL WEAR A MASK ALONG WITH THEM.

>> YOU'RE IN THE MINORITY.

I'VE BEEN ON A COUPLE FLIGHTSLYLY, BEEN IN BEEN IN TARGET AND, AND IT WAS THE CASE ON THIS FLIGHT, 100 PEOPLE ON THE PLANE WITH SEVEN OR EIGHT WEARING A MASK, INCLUDING ME, AND I REMEMBER SITTING THERE THINKING LIKE WHO IS THE SMART ONE?

BECAUSE I THINK I'M WELL INSULATED WITH A GOOD MASK, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND THESE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T PROTECTED AT ALL ARE BEING EXPOSED TO EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME AND THEY'RE -- MAYBE THEIR I IMMUNE SYSTEMS ARE IN BETTER SHAPE THAN MINE AFTER ALL THAT EXPOSURE.

>> WELL, I THINK WE DON'T NEED TO BE ALL OR NOTHING WITH MASKING, AND I THINK MAYBE THAT'S A FALSE DECISION THAT'S BEEN CREATED FOR US WITH SO MUCH DEBATE AND DISCUSSION OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AROUND MASKING.

I THINK I HAVE VERY MUCH ENJOYED GOING BACK AND ENJOYING EATING INDOORS, DINING INDOORS, SEEING FRIENDS I HAD NOT SEEN FOR SOME TIME, BUT I ALSO STILL -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I STAY HEALTHY SO I CAN SHOW UP TO WORK EVERY DAY AT THE HOSPITAL, TAKE CARE OF THE PATIENTS THAT I'M THERE FOR, MAKE SURE THAT MY DAUGHTER THAT'S IN SCHOOL STAYS HEALTHY SO SHE CAN BE WITH HER FRIENDS AND LEARN, AND WE KNEW THAT PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF DAYS LOST FROM WORK AND DAYS LOST FROM SCHOOL WERE ATTRIBUTABLE TO RESPIRATORY VIRUSES.

AND SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING I CAN DO FOR AT LEAST ME PERSONALLY THAT'S A LOW BURDEN FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS WALKING AROUND THE AQUARIUM, THAT'S FINE BY ME.

>> IF YOU'RE USED TO BREATHING THROUGH IT AT THIS POINT, WHICH I AM, IT DOESN'T -- DOESN'T REALLY BOTHER YOU.

LET'S TAKE A PHONE CALL.

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

THIS IS FRED.

FRED, THANKS FOR THE CALL.

GO AHEAD.

>> OKAY.

YES.

ABOUT A MONTH AGO I GOT MY BOOSTER SHOT AND THE, YOU KNOW, COVID SHOT, AND THE FLU SHOT, AND I STILL HAVE PAIN IN MY ARM FROM THAT, AND I DIDN'T KNOW LIKE THEY SWITCHED THE VACCINE ON ME FROM MODERNA WHEN I ORIGINALLY GOT THE PFIZER INITIALLY, AND JUST WONDERED THAT IS THAT A PROBLEM OR IS THAT NORMAL TO STILL HAVE PAIN IN YOUR ARM WHERE THEY INJECTED THE NEEDLE?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

GLAD YOU CALLED.

THANK YOU.

>> YEAH, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

TYPICALLY THE SORENESS WEARS OFF AFTER A FEW DAYS, THOUGH THERE ARE A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT CAN LAST AND THERE CAN EVEN BE SOME SWELLING THAT LASTS FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS.

NOT SURE ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE CALLER'S HISTORY BUT SOME PEOPLE THAT TAKE ASPIRIN REGULARLY OR BLOOD THINNERS, THERE CAN BE A LIL LITTLE BIT MORE SWELLING AND BRUISING PRESENT AS WELL THAT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO SOME DISCOMFORT.

BUT MOST OF THE SYMPTOMS FROM THESE VACCINES WEAR OFF WITHIN ABOUT TWO TO THREE DAYS.

>> THEY DO TEND TO BOTHER SOME PEOPLE A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN OTHER PEOPLE.

>> AND THAT COULD BE FOR A WHOLE HOST OF REASONS.

YOUNGER INDIVIDUALS, WE SAW IN THE VACCINE TRIALS, TENDED TO HAVE FEVER A LITTLE BIT MORE FREQUENTLY, MAYBE SLIGHTLY HIGHER FEVERS AND FATIGUE AS WELL THAT I HAVE HAD THE PERSISTED LONGER THAN IN OLDER ADULTS.

NOT NECESSARILY A SIGN PER SE THAT YOUR RESPONSE WAS BETTER AND THAT YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS BETTER PRIMED BUT IT'S JUST AN UNDERLYING SIGN THAT YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS WORKING HARD TO TRAIN YOUR BODY TO PROTECT IT AGAINST FUTURE EXPOSURE OF VIRUSES.

>> LET'S THEY CAN A CALL FROM ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.

THIS IS PAUL.

GO AHEAD.

>> PLEASE.

HELP UNDERSTAND WHAT IS IT THEAG GOING AROUND.

IT'S VERY STRONG.

IT'S LASTING OVER THREE WEEKS.

IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE FLU.

IT'S GOT PERSIST COUGHING, TRY COUGHING, AND IT JUST HANGS ON VERY STRONG.

IS THIS A NEW VIRUS?

ARE THESE VIRUSES MERGED TOGETHER TO GIVE US SOMETHING NEW LIKE FLU RSV TOGETHER OR WHY IS IT SO STRONG THIS SEASON THIS TIME AROUND, PLEASE?

>> HEY, PAUL, YOU'VE GOT IT?

>> OH, YES, I'VE GOT IT.

THE FAMILY GOT IT.

EVERYBODY GOT IT.

>> AND COVID TEST IS NEGATIVE.

>> IT'S NOT COVID, DEFINITELY.

WE'VE DONE ABOUT SEVEN COVID TESTS, AND IT'S NOT COVID, IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE ANY INFLUENZA WE'VE HAD EARLIER IN LIFE.

IT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY STRONG RESPIRATORY.

>> WOW.

SIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CALLING AND FEEL BETTER.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> PAUL, I ECHO THAT, PLEASE REST UP.

AS I MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF THE INTERVIEW, WHAT WE'RE JUST SEEING OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE THE MYRIAD OF RESPIRATORY VIRUSES THAT TYPICALLY CAUSE INFECTIONS IN HUMANS, AND SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT EXACTLY THE CALLER MAY BE EXPERIENCING BUT WE KNOW THAT RSV THAT IS BEEN EXTRAORDINARILY PREVALENT IN THE MID-ATLANTIC OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

AND MOST ADULTS HAVEN'T SEEN IT IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, EITHER, SO IT CAN OCCASIONALLY CAUSE SOME VIER LOWER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS IN OLDER ADULTS.

BUT -- BUT WE'RE WILL NOT SEEING ANYTHING NEW PER SE.

THESE ARE ALL OF THE TYPICAL VIRUSES THAT WE'RE VERY USED TO YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT HA WE JUST TOOK A COUPLE YEARS' BREAK FROM.

>> AND I DON'T KNOW IF PAUL IS SEEING A DOCTOR OR NOT BUT DO MEDICAL PRFLTIONZ HAVE BETTER COVID TESTS?

-- MEDICAL PROFESSES.

AS THE VIRUS HAS MUTATED AND ALL THAT WE'RE STILL USING THE SAME TESTS.

YOU GUESS THEY'RE STILL WORKING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WITH ALL OF THE VIRUS MUTATION WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY DECREASE IN PERFORMANCE OF THE COVID TEST.

THE AT-HOME TESTS ARE VERY MUCH DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE USE IN HEALTH CARE SEGHTS, THOUGH, SETTINGS TH AND THEY ARE BEATER DENGT VERY LOW LEVELS VIRUS.

WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS A PHENOMENA ANECDOTALLY AND ALSO SEEN IN DATA IS THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH VERY HIGH LEVELS OF IMMUNITY TO COVID MAY ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE MUCH OF THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID, ESPECIALLY SORE THROAT AND SOME FATIGUE, WITHOUT REALLY TESTING POSITIVE BY AT LEAST THE AT-HOME TESTS.

>> LET'S SQUEEZE IN ONE QUICK PHONE CALL.

CHRIS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

A QUICK QUESTION, SIR.

>> YES.

THANK YOU.

MY QUESTION IS I'VE HAD NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER.

I HAVE ALL OF MY SHOTS.

I HAVE NOT HAD COVID.

AND I'VE HAD NO ISSUES WITH ANY OF MY BOOSTERS.

AND IT'S BEEN -- I'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT THAT MEANS THAT BECAUSE I'M NOT FEELING ANY DISCOMFORT, THE BOOSTERS ARE NOT AS STRONG FOR ME.

>> GREAT QUESTION.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.

I'D LIKE YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> WE WILL GET YOU AN ANSWER.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

>> YEAH, AND I SORT OF ALLUDE TO THIS EARLIER WHEN YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS.

CERTAINLY WE KNOW THAT THE SIDE EFFECTS THAT CAN OCCUR ARE AS A RESULT OF IMMUNE RESPONSE ONGOING IN THE BODY, THOUGH THE ABSENCE OF SYMPTOMS, JUST BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE A FEVER AND YOU DO NOT FEEL SORENESS AFTERWARDS DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS NOT RESPONDING.

THE DOSE IS STANDARDIZED, IT'S BEEN TESTIFIED, AND WE KNOW FROM DATA AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD THAT THEY'RE EFFECTIVE.

>> DR. CHRIS SHANK OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER.

THANK YOU FORE VISITING US IN PERSON AGAIN P IF APPRECIATE.

IT.

NOW, AT A TIME WHEN YOUR DOLLAR DOESN'T GO AS FAR AS IT USED TO, THE BALTIMORE BANNER WENT IN SEARCH OF THE BEST DEALS AT AREA SUPERMARKETS.

WE SPOKE WITH FOOD REPORTER CHRISTINA TACKETT.

THANK YOU FOR JOIN US.

FOOD INFLATION RUNNING REALLY HOT AT THE MOMENT.

ANY ITEMS IN PARTICULAR?

>> Christina Tkaczyk: EGGS DEFINITELY INCREASED IN APPLIES AND I'M SURE ANYONE WHOSE BEEN GROCERY SHOPPING HAS NOTICED, A HUGE SURGE IN EGGS DRIVEN PARTLY BY AVIAN FLU.

ALSO POTATOES, POTATO CHIPS AS A RESULT.

AND MILK IN SOME CASES AND BUTTER HAS REALLY SKYROCKETED AS WELL.

>> SO YOU DID ALL THE LEGWORK FOR THIS STORY.

YOU PHYSICALLY WENT TO TRADER JOE'S, WHOLE FOODS, ALL THE GIANT, WEGMANS, HARRIS, SHOPRITE.

WEISS MARKETS.

IS THAT HOW YOU SAY IT?

>> JE ABOUT.

>> AND YOU SAW BIG DIFFERENCES.

>> YEAH.

YES AND NO.

THAT'S KIND OF AN INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE THERE WERE WAS A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GROCERY STORES THAT CAME IN AT THE TOP AND THE GROCERY STORES THAT CAME IN AT THE VERY BOTTOM, YOU THE ABOUT AMONG THE ONES AT THE TOP WE REALLY SAW SIMILAR PRICE POINTS FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT ITEMS, SO JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, HARRIS TEETER WAS THE MOST EXEFNT STORES THAT WE LOOK AT.

REALLY FOLLOWED VERY CLOSELY BY WHOLE FOODS, FOLLOWED VERY CLOSELY BY GIANT, AND THEN FOLLOWED VERY CLOSELY BY SAFE WAY.

OR NO.

SORRY.

I THINK I MIGHT HAVE HAD THAT REVERSED.

IT WAS WHOLE FOODS AND THEN SAFE WAY AND THEN GIANT.

BUT THEN AFTER THAT THERE WAS A SOMEWHAT, SOMETHING OF A GAP IN OUR PRICE TOTAL BECAUSE WE LOOK AT OVERALL PRICES FOR A LIST OF ITEMS, NOT JUST INDIVIDUAL THINGS.

AND SO THEN THERE WAS A GAP WITH WEGMANS COMING IN SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE AND THEN FOR THE LOWEST, FOR THE LOWEST COST STORES THEY CAME IN SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER.

>> YOU DIDN'T GO TO WALMART AND TARGET, THOUGH, THAT HAVE BIG GROCERY BUSINESSES NOW.

>> RIGHT.

READERS AFTER THE FACT THAT THEY REALLY WANTED US TO INCLUDE WALMART.

THAT WAS A DECISION WE KIND OF SAT TOGETHER, I SAT TOGETHER WITH MY EDITORS AND WE TALKED ABOUT WHICH STORIES TO INCLUDE AND WHICH ONES NOT TO, BUT I THINK FOR THE NEXT ROUND WE'LL DEFINITELY WANT TO INCLUDE WALMART.

OTHER PEOPLE MENTIONED SHOPRITE WHICH HAS A BIG FERENCZ HERE IN BALTIMORE -- A BIG PRESENCE HERE IN BALTIMORE.

AND I THINK THAT THERE'S THERE ARE SOME OTHER STORES THAT WE COULD LOOK AT AS WELL IN BALTIMORE AND ROLAND PARK HAVE BIG PRESENCE.

>> I LIKE YOU HOW WENT SHOPPING FOR THE BASICS AND ON THAT LIST OF BASIC ITEMS WAS A SMALL CONTAINER OF OLD BAY.

THAT'S JUST PERFECT.

>> RIGHT.

A MARYLAND NECESSITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND YOU FOUND THE BUTTER VARIED A LOT.

LIKE HOW MUCH?

>> YEAH, IT WAS HUGE.

TYPICALLY IN A TYPICAL YEAR WE USED A DIFFERENT PRICE, WE USED A BASE PRICE.

WE DIDN'T USE IF YOU ARE A REGULAR SHOPPER AT HARRIS TEETER YOU PROBABLY HAVE A MEMBERSHIP CARD.

WE DIDN'T USE THE MEMBERSHIP PRICES.

BUT WITHOUT USING THE MEMBER L. MEMBER SHICH PRICE, THE HIGHEST PRICE I THINK WAS ALMOST $9 FOR LAND O LAKES BUTTER AT HARRIS TEETDER AND IN CASES WHERE WE COULDN'T FIND THE NAME BRAND PRODUCT, WE WENT WITH THE STORE BRAND.

A LOT OF STORES ARE USING PRIVATE LABELS NOW OR WHAT WE USED TO CALL JUST GENERIC.

AND SO I THINK IN SOME CASES WE SAW A POUND OF BUTTER FOR I WANT TO SAY $2.99.

I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS BUT THERE I WAS HUGE VARIATION.

>> AND LET ME ASK ABOUT THE TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS BECAUSE, YES, YOU CAN PROBABLY SAVE A DOLLAR OR TWO ON BUTTER BY GOING TO A DIFFERENT STORE.

IF YOU'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE THOSE OPTIONS.

PLENTY OF PEOPLE IN FOOT DESERTS AND PEOPLE WITH LIMITED TRANSPORTATION AND WHATEVER THE CLOSEST STORE IS, THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING.

BUT IF YOU'RE -- IF YOU'RE GOING TO DRIVE SOMEWHERE TO SAVE $2.00, YOU DO NOT WANT TO BURN $5.00 IN GAS, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

THAT WAS ONE THING THAT I NOTICED OVER AND OVER AGAIN WAS THAT A STORE THAT WOULD HAVE SOMETHING BE FOR EXAMPLE,, SAY THEY HAD BUTTER FOR A REALLY GREAT PRICE, FOR A MUCH LOWER BRYCE THAN OTHER PLACES, GENERALLY SPEAKING MOST STORES ARE GOING TO COMPENSATE FOR THAT VERY LOW PRICE, A COMMON TERM THE LOCK LEADER WHERE STORES WILL SELL SOMETHING AT A VERY LOW PRICE.

SOMETIMES THEY'LL EVEN SELL IT AS A LOSS AND THEY ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO MAKE UP THAT PROFIT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT JUST AN INDIVIDUAL ITEM, IT IS HARD TO MAKE A SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS.

THAT SAID, THERE WERE TWO STORES THAT WERE SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAPER, AND THOSE WERE LEEDEL AND ALDI WEST SO OUR CHECK TOTAL FOR MOST OF THE STORES THAT WE LOOKED AT CAME BETWEEN I WANT TO SAY $40 AND $47, $48.

BUT WHEN WE LOOKED A ALDI, THAT WAS SOMEWHERE IN THE $30 RANGE -- NO, WHEN WE LOOKED ADD LEADEL THAT WAS SENATOR IN THE ALREADY DOLLARS AND EALD WAS IN $20, I WANT TO SAY WAS ABOUT $25.

SO A REALLY SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS THERE.

>> NOW, ONE OF THOSE STORES, AND THEY'RE BOTH SORT RECENT MARKET ENTRANCE IN SIZE ANYWAY, ONE OF THEM ADVERTISES WHAT THEY CALL SUSPICIOUSLY LOW PRICES.

AND I JUST DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT SLOGAN.

I DON'T WANT ANYTHING ABOUT MY HAMBURGER TO BE SUSPICIOUS.

>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY I AGREE WITH YOU.

WHEN I FIRST SAW THAT BILLBOARD I THOUGHT, THAT'S KIND OF AN INTERESTING -- YOU KNOW, THAT'S AN INTEREST CAN WAY OF PITCHING YOUR PRICES.

THAT SAID, YOU MIGHT -- WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD, I THINK THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU REALLY -- R. -- MAYBE YOU DON'T CARE AS MUCH ABOUT THE PRICE.

YOU'RE REALLY AFTER THE QUALITY.

BUT ONE PERSON I SPOKE TO MADE THE POINT TO THAT MORE AND MORE REALLY PRICE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR ABOVE SELECTION, ABOVE THE OVERALL VIBE OF THE GROCERIES STORE, AND DURING MY TRIPS TO LEADEL AND ALDI ESPECIALLY THERE WERE A TON OF PEOPLE THERE, SO I THINK THAT IN LEADING WITH THEIR LOW PRICES, IT DOES SEEM LIKE THEY'RE GETTING THE MESSAGE TO AUDIENCES OR TO THEIR CUSTOMERS WHO IN THIS TIME OF RAMPANT INFLATION ARE -- THAT'S A MESSAGE THAT'S REALLY RESONATING.

>> AND THE ISSUE ABOUT BRAND NAMES OR STORE BRANDS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS PREVIOUSLY WHEN TALKING ABOUT DEALING WITH INFLATION.

I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ON IT.

LIKE I'M EXTREMELY BORING AT BREAKFAST.

I LIKE CHEERIOS.

AND I HAVE NEVER TRIED -- BECAUSE YOU CAN GET CHEERIOS CHEAP ENOUGH AT THE TARGET OR WALMART, AND ACTUALLY ONCE YOU'VE DONE THAT, YOU SORT OF FEEL FUNNY WHEN YOU GO TO THE FULL PRICE GROCERY STORES.

I'M NOT PAYING THAT.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, I'M NOT BUYING A BOX OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD THE KNOCKOFF BE, CHEERY OATS OR CHEERFUL O'S OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I GETS GUESS IT'S OKAY.

>> AND I HAVE TO SAY THE LEADEL AND ALDI AND ACTUALLY A LOT OF STORES THAT I LOOKED AT, WHOLE FOODS ALSO HAS A LOT OF THEIR PRIVATE LABEL IN THE PLACE OF A LOT OF RECOGNIZABLE NAME PRANDS, BUT LEADEL AND ALDI IN MORE CASES THAIN WAS EXPECTING DID HAVE THE NAME BRAND THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.

THAT SAID, ONE FRIEND THAT I READ THE STORY TURNED TO ME AND SAID, SURE, ALDI'S IS THE CHEAPEST.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE VERY SPECIFIC SETTLERS WATER THAT I'M LOOKING FOR.

I SAID, YEAH, DEFINITELY.

IF THERE'S A VERY SPECIFIC BRAND THAT YOU HAVE A LOYALTY TO THAT BRAND, THAT'S -- THERE IS DEFINITELY A DRAID TRADEOFF THAT IF YOU GO TO A STORE BIKE ALDI AND LEADEL THERE'S A CHANCE YOU MIGHT NOT FIND.

>> IT DID THIS REPORTING EXPERIENCE CHANGE YOUR PERSONAL BEHAVIOR OR ANY OF YOUR COLLEAGUES DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY AS A RESULT OF WHAT YOU LEARNED?

>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT MY COLLEAGUES BUT I ACTUALLY DID -- I'M NOT TYPICALLY AN ALDI SHOPPER, BUT I DID GO TO ALDI OVER THE WEEKEND AND I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE PRICES.

AND ALSO OF INTEREST TO A LOT OF MARYLAND VIEWERS, I'M SURE, IS THAT THEY HAVE -- BECAUSE OF THEIR EUROPEAN BRAND, THEY HAD A REALLY GREAT SELECTION OF GERMAN PRODUCTS FOR THE HOLIDAY, INCLUDING SAHR SAUERKRAUT WHICH IS, OF COURSE, A MARYLAND HOLIDAY STABLE.

I WAS GLAD TO SCOOP THAT UP.

>> THEY ALSO HAVE SOME PRETTY GOOD BAKED GOODS.

I FORGET WHICH OF THE STORES BUT IT CATCHES YOU RIGHT WHEN YOU WALK IN AND YOU'RE HUNGRY.

>> RIGHT.

THAT'S HOW THEY GET.

>> YOU CHRISTINA, WHILE WE HAVE YOU, YOU'RE THE FOOD BRIGHTER BALTIMORE BANNER IS FAIRLY NEW.

ANY RECENT STORIES ON THE FOOD BEAT THAT YOU WANT TO CALL OUR ATTENTION DO?

>> WELL, THANKS SO MUCH FOR ASKING ME.

BALTIMORE HAS SUCH AN EXCITING RESTAURANT SCENE.

SO MANY NEW RESTAURANT HAVE OPENED AND A LOT HAVE CLOSED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

I THINK ONE REALLY FASCINATING THING THAT WE'VE SEEN IS BALTIMORE WOODBURY KITCHEN, WHICH WAS A HUGE STAPLE OF THE FINE DINING SCENE, HAS ACTUALLY -- IT'S BEEN IN KIND OF A PANDEMIC HIATUS FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF -- OVER A YEAR NOW.

AND THEY'VE JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE COMING BACK, GOING FROM A OVER 100-SEAT RESTAURANT TO NOW A 30-FOOT TAVERN.

OR A FOOT 30 FEET TAVERN.

>> BIG CHANGE.

>> IT'S A HUGE CHANGE FOR OUR A REALLY WELL OF HAD KNOWN RESTAURANT.

I THINK IT IS JUST EMBLEMATIC OF A LOT OF THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE SEEING IN HOW PEOPLE ARE DINING AND HOW PEOPLE ARE OPERATING RESTAURANTS RIGHT NOW.

>> CHRISTINA WRITES FOR THE BARM BANNER.

TRAWNTS CHRISTINA, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THAWSKS.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> John: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

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