A $58 Thanksgiving feast for 10 people?

Frank Luntz tweeted a link to a CNBC article, along with ripped quotes.  It was about how cheap Thanksgiving dinner is this year, and references 'Meal Deals' from Aldi's, Walmart, Target, and Amazon.  

Aldi's won't say what's in their package, and Amazon doesn't even have a package listed, just 9 gazillion items that don't equal the price they mention.  

Walmart does list their included items to feed 10 for $58, but a search of every Walmart in our county show none of them actually have all these things.  Most commonly missing is the centerpiece of the show, the turkey.  Nobody had the discount bird, nor other key ingredients.  At least, not at the price shown.

Walmart's list of unobtainable ingredients to feed 10 people a holiday 'feast' for $58:

• Whole Frozen Turkey 10 – 16 lb. ($0.88/lb.)
• Great Value Sweet Hawaiian Rolls (1 unit – 12oz)
• Great Value Golden Sweet Whole Kernel Corn (3 units - 15oz)
• Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce (1 unit - 14oz)
• Great Value Canned Green Beans (2 units - 14.5oz)
• French’s Crispy Fried Onions (1 unit - 6oz)
• Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (2 units - 10.5oz)
• Great Value Brown Gravy Mix (2 units - 0.87oz)
• Marie Callender’s Southern Pecan Pie (1 unit - 32oz)
• Great Value Frozen Whipped Topping (1 unit - 8oz)
• Great Value Frozen Deep Dish Pie Crusts (1 unit - 16oz)
• Great Value 100% Pure Pumpkin (1 unit - 15oz)
• Great Value Evaporated Milk (1 unit – 12 fl oz)
• Jet-Puffed Mini Marshmallows (1 unit - 10oz)
• Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix (2 units - 8.5oz)
• Great Value Poultry Seasoning (1 unit - 1.5oz)
• Swanson Chicken Broth (1 unit - 32oz)
• Fresh Whole Russet Potatoes (1 unit - 5lbs)
• Fresh Whole Sweet Potatoes (3 units)
• Fresh Yellow Onions (1 unit - 3lbs)
• Fresh Celery Stalks (1 unit)

Nice list.  Shame if it was.... nonexistent in reality.

Here is Target's list to feed 4 people for $20:

• Good & Gather Premium Basted Young Turkey (Frozen) – up to 10 lb.
• Good & Gather Russet Potatoes – 5 lb.
• Del Monte Cut Green Beans – 14.5 oz.
• Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup – 10.5 oz.
• Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce – 14 oz.
• Stove Top Turkey Stuffing Mix – 6 oz.
• Heinz Home Style Roasted Turkey Gravy – 12 oz.

In Target's favor, their website says they actually have these things in stock.  That said, COME ON MAN!   That's a Thanksgiving feast?  Where are the rolls?  The butter?  The desert?  SIX OUNCES of stuffing mix?  Prison style green bean casserole?  Bob Cratchit would feel right at home with this 'feast'.

I am forced to conclude these 'Meal Deals' are advertising schlock.  Nothing but unobtainable come-ons tossed out to attract shoppers to the stores.

CNBC would and should have known this if they had practiced even the slightest bit of professional journalism. Then again, sloppy 'creative' reporting is their calling card.

Frank Luntz, a man who gained his fortune by his reputation, should have checked rather than just parroting a terrible source.

Sorry my friends, but the $58 thanksgiving feast for 10 does not exist in our universe.  Like most 'news' over the last few years, it's totally fabricated garbage.