Supermarkets are often bustling hubs of activity, filled with shoppers on the hunt for fresh produce and groceries.

However, amidst the routine shopping experience, occasional incidents leave both customers and staff astounded.

In a recent episode at Woolworths, an act in the fruit aisle has sparked outrage and disbelief, prompting concerns among shoppers about the overall hygiene and safety standards maintained in such retail environments.

The incident was shared online by a shopper who narrated the event with visible displeasure, using terms like 'disgusting' and 'ick' to emphasise her revulsion.

A Woolworths shopper was ‘disgusted’ after witnessing another customer squeeze blueberries and put them back on the shelf. Credits: Shutterstock

'Okay, so I just went and grabbed some groceries and—please tell me this is normal,' she said in the video.

'A lady walked over, and she was standing in front of me at the blueberries and strawberries in Woolworths, and she opened up the blueberries, and started touching them.’

‘After she squeezed the blueberries, she put them back and did it to another two punnets until she grabbed the one she wanted and walked away. Is that normal? Yuck,' she continued.

The video quickly sparked outrage among social media users, with many echoing the shopper's sentiment.

'Oh p*** off. I don't want to buy blueberries again now,' commented one user.

Another added, 'Yuuuuckkkk!! I wash ours and this still makes me mad!'

This incident raises important questions about the etiquette and regulations surrounding the handling unpackaged food in supermarkets.

While many of us are accustomed to picking our own fruit and vegetables, there is an unspoken rule and expectation that we do so with respect for the next customer and with hygiene in mind.

In response to such concerns, many supermarkets, including Woolworths, have implemented measures to ensure the quality and safety of their produce.

These measures include regular quality checks, clear signage reminding customers to handle food with care, and providing hand sanitisers near fresh food sections.

However, these quality checks don’t always succeed, as seen in another incident concerning Woolworths fruits.

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths shopper expressed disgust at another customer’s actions involving blueberries in the fruit aisle.
• The offender was seen opening multiple punnets of blueberries, squeezing them, and then placing them back on the shelf.
• The eyewitness shopper shared a video on social media detailing the incident and expressing her dismay.
• Social media users responded strongly against the behaviour, indicating a loss of appetite for purchasing blueberries and concern for hygiene.

Have you encountered a similar experience? What would you do if you were to witness such an act? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

 

[Col@45]

Fruit would be touched by the packers anyway. Just wash thoroughly

 

[Judio]

Back to the time when we purchased all our fruit and vegs at the local fruit shop, everyone 'squeezed' prior to purchasing. Of course back then we always washed everything before we served it up. We weren't brainwashed into believing that everything pre-packed was pre-washed.

 

[Penny4]

You can look at the bottom of the container instead of opening it. Nobody gets a perfect pack, as they put ripe & half ripe fruit in them. Anyway, fruit needs to washed at home.

 

[Sally G]

In Woolie, I have seen a mother intent on her phone, ignoring her child in the meat section who was busy poking his finger into the packs of meat, delighted when he "popped" the plastic and then moving to another one. When I pointed this out to her, she couldn't have cared less, excusing the child as just being "naughty". I never buy meat in Woolies - I prefer a real butcher who doesn't wrap his meat up in plastic

 

[what]

Poke the fruit? I don't care as half the fruit I buy at Woolies is rotten anyway and I have to toss it out, In the past week I have had to toss out avocados and apples bought two days before and kept in the fridge. Perhaps Woolies should change from to Fresh Food People to the ROTTEN FRUIT PEOPLE, it would be more honest.

 

[David567]

I often see people handle fruit and vegetables and then put them down again. I have to wonder how many other hands have touched the same items. Hygiene standards of some people are appalling to say the least, and has really turned me off from buying these products. It's not uncommon to smell some people at 40 feet away and they handle everything. Discusting. I was recently in Aldi and there was a family of 5 that smelled so bad everyone was dry retching, and these people handle everything. It's a real turnoff as stinking prople seem to becoming the norm lately. Gonna need a gas mask before too much longer.

 

[David567]

In Woolie, I have seen a mother intent on her phone, ignoring her child in the meat section who was busy poking his finger into the packs of meat, delighted when he "popped" the plastic and then moving to another one. When I pointed this out to her, she couldn't have cared less, excusing the child as just being "naughty". I never buy meat in Woolies - I prefer a real butcher who doesn't wrap his meat up in plastic

I saw a kid do that once so I picked up the damaged trays and put them into her trolley and told her I would watch to make sure she paid for the damaged packs or I would report her to the manager. She paid up.

 

[AlanQ]

Poke the fruit? I don't care as half the fruit I buy at Woolies is rotten anyway and I have to toss it out, In the past week I have had to toss out avocados and apples bought two days before and kept in the fridge. Perhaps Woolies should change from to Fresh Food People to the ROTTEN FRUIT PEOPLE, it would be more honest.

Maybe take up their challenge of 'satisfaction or money back'. Avocados are the most over handled product in all stores, watch people pick them up, squeeze the hell out of them and then put back. Possibly because a dozen other consumers have done this very thing, squeezed and subsequently bruised them and just put them back. The amount of waste generated by over handling is part of the reason why supermarkets have high prices on fresh produce. Is a 40% loss associated with self serve. Was the reason why Aldi (previously) sold all it's produce prepacked greatly reduced the waste through excessive handling.

 

[Rob44]

Now about y'all going to Colesworths and not wearing masks to stop your sneeze travelling 26 feet or your cough carrying Covid-19 (yes, the pandemic is still running) getting droplets into the air so that wives can carry the disease home to wreck their husbands' lungs. I'd prefer to take my chances with freshly-squeezed blueberries; at least I can wash them.

 

[Pic@Choo]

I have seen the same thing but with both cherries and grapes ,the lady went through umpteen bags and in the end swapped some out of one bag into another . We all like fresh plump fruit but come on please don’t handle bags and bags before you make your choice

 

[Jest]

well I would not be silent while watching.

 

[MariaG]

I find it highly amusing when standing back to watch whilst people go through loose bins and pick up, say, cherries one at a time after inspecting each one, beans one at a time, and so it goes on.
I give them a bit of time, then, excuse myself and say, in a polite way, sorry I can't wait for you to finish your ritual, get what I want and go. I would say that people who do the search and select method would be used to negative reactions and water just rolls of their ducks backs.
Each to their own. I do a cursory glance, check top and bottom of clear containers, and always, always, always, wash my fruit and veg before consuming anything. Why wouldn't we?

 

[Catherines]

Packed clear containers of fruit or veg should be sealed with a sticker. I admit I will pick & choose avocados, & fruit and vegetable that need peeling - shouldn’t we all be washing our fruit & vegetables before consuming them, anyhow? If you don’t then more fool you.

 

[amandaloisjupp1961]

Not food related but a few years ago I saw a man change his baby’s nappy in a brand new baby cot in the store .