A lot of the packaging is recyclable, if you have the local facility.

I would guess that, to comply with hygiene regulations nowadays, as well as customer expectations, the packaging on most perishable items is legislated to some degree. Most places will have loose vegetable items if you object to extra packaging.

I try to always take my own bags to the supermarket - it may not be much but I feel that I am contributing a little less to the general layer of indestructible waste that's around these days. With the price of oil going up these plastic products are also going to become more costly - what's the betting that sometime soon we will start getting charged for shop carrier bags.