One supermarket shopper described “customers fighting over the last box of cucumbers” on the first day Aldi and Tesco imposed rationing on some of their fresh produce. The two retailers announced limits on purchases of certain fruits and vegetables on Thursday.
It followed similar moves by Morrisons and Asda, with four major supermarkets now limiting the number of items people can buy on items like peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes. The temporary measures are in response to national shortages of some fruits and vegetables.
Bad weather and transport problems in Spain and Morocco have left some stores across the UK with dwindling supplies and empty shelves. And with industry officials warning the problem could continue for a ‘few weeks’, it appears shoppers are growing increasingly frustrated in the aisles.
Read more: Tesco, Aldi, Asda and Morrisons veg limits: Full rationing list amid shortages
One customer claimed that people were “fighting over the last box of cucumbers” within hours of Aldi and Tesco imposing restrictions. Responding to a photo on Twitter showing empty tomato bins in an Asda store, @Joursans said: “At Aldi and Tesco yesterday it was yes we have no tomatoes.
“No lettuce or peppers either. Customers fighting over the last box of cucumbers.”
Another Twitter user @__Lolaaxo expressed her frustration after the person in front of her at Tesco grabbed the last pepper. She said: “They’re rationing peppers at Tesco. And the person in front of me took the last (angry face) Brexit smh.”
One Lidl shopper, Lisa Fearns, claimed she was banned from buying a staggering 100 cucumbers at her local store, something she insists she had done every week for years because of her detox drink business.
Asda has urged its buyers to “buy responsibly” until regular supplies resume. A sign next to restricted items in stores reads: “During this time of high demand and intermittent supply, we are working hard to keep our shelves stocked with items for everyone.
“We’ve always been proud to serve customers with great items and ask all of our customers to shop responsibly so we can help make sure there’s enough to go around.”
Tesco, Britain’s biggest grocery store, said it was introducing limits as a precaution to ensure customers could get the products they needed. Aldi said it was placing restrictions on peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes to “ensure that as many customers as possible can buy what they need.”
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