Choice Already Checked Off Food Shopping Lists

Shel and Arlene Weisback are concerned [“Oligarchy Wrong Recipe for Area’s Food Stores,� Letters, Dec. 14] that the numerous mergers will reduce the number of choices on the shelves; it is already happening to me.

Both the drugstore and the grocery store have been taken over and, in each, products which I have used regularly are now discontinued. The drugstore pharmacy can order one of the products which is no longer on the shelf, but it is not a house brand and costs me about 50% more than what I was buying. In the market, products which are similar to the discontinued product are available--at a higher cost. I would say that, as mergers occur more often, the consumer will be the loser.

JUANITA MATASSA

Santa Ana