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Original poster

Tesco - three types of fruit only.

52 replies

DeathMetalMum · 26/03/2020 21:21

I went to the supermarket - local Tesco this morning for the weekly shop, I bought what I would normally buy in normal quantities. I get to the checkout and load up and as my shopping is going through I'm told I can have three types of fruit only. I had plums, apples, bananas, strawberries, blueberries and some reduced raspberries I buy all of these most weeks (sometimes grapes and clementines too) and I was told I needed to choose which three I wanted to buy. I had a bit of a grumble at the shop assistant saying I would now have to come back to the supermarket again when we are supposed to be limiting where we travel and that it was counter productive. Even more so that there was a fair amount of fruit in the reduced section meaning that clearly there is enough to go round everyone. I did apologise to the assistant afterwards but I think it is a really silly idea. We have four people in our house and there are many households that have more and fruit is a key part of most people's diet, and the shelves were in no way empty.

In the end I just bought the fruit I couldn't get in Tesco in another supermarket.

OP posts:
fessmess · 26/03/2020 21:24

I could only buy 3 bananas. I usually buy a bunch. Seems daft, but hey ho.

witchy89 · 26/03/2020 21:26

Same here, no shortage of fruit and veg in any of the shops near us, which seems surprising seeing as fresh produce will contribute to a strong health immune system! And I also noticed lots of it in the reduced section yesterday, didn't occur to me at the time that that must mean it's not being snapped up at the same rate as everything else on offer! Our Tesco also had outrageous amounts of Mother's Day flowers massively reduced, which I did think was sad.

PrincessMargaret · 26/03/2020 21:27

Really? What a thing to fret about.

StormyLovesOdd · 26/03/2020 21:27

Are they doing the same with fresh veg too? I normally buy much more than 3 types.

I get why they're doing it but 3 types of fruit isn't the same as 3 huge packs of loo roll or 3 bottles of hand sanitiser

KellyHall · 26/03/2020 21:27

It's not a great way to prevent disease spreading is it - limiting the nutrients we're all allowed! Whatever happened to 5 A DAY?!

fairynick · 26/03/2020 21:28

It’s such a small problem compared to what we’ve got going on right now. Just take your three pieces and piss off, and don’t take it out on the assistant, they’re under a lot of pressure at the minute. They don’t care.

TheSpottedZebra · 26/03/2020 21:30

I bought more than 3 types of fruit, and more than three types of veg with no issues. I even bought 6 bananas!
It didn't occur to me that that would be an issue.

CakeAndGin · 26/03/2020 21:31

I think it’s individual Tesco’s. Yesterday DH got two packs of apples, a bunch of bananas, clementines and a bag of pears. He wasn’t challenged to only getting 3 items. That’s a little bit more than our usual fruit shop but only because DH has a fruit basket at work, which he obviously doesn’t for the next few weeks.

DesLynamsMoustache · 26/03/2020 21:32

This feels like someone taking the 'three things' advice a bit too over-zealously. When you buy online, you aren't limited to three 'fruits' in the same way, so it seems odd to enforce that in store.

ShellsAndSunrises · 26/03/2020 21:32

I bought more than three types of fruit today; and a whole bunch of bananas... I guess it’s regional and based on demand locally.

Original poster
DeathMetalMum · 26/03/2020 21:33

Yes I know they are under a lot of pressure. I work in a pharmacy and it is extremely busy and everyone is even more stressed than usual. Which is why I apologised.

It's just extremely annoying and counter productive as people (not just me) will have to go out again sooner than they would have needed to if they could buy what was needed, when we are supposed to be going out as little as possible.

OP posts:
Hazelnutlatteplease · 26/03/2020 21:33

Fruit really shouldnt be a key part of your 5 a day due to the sugar content. Most of that should be veg. Some countries actually specify 5 veg 2 fruit

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 26/03/2020 21:33

This is the problem with unofficial rationing... Those buying for one person can shop and eat easily. Those buying for a family struggle. 3 apples, 3 oranges and 3 bananas doesn't go far between 2 kids, let alone their parents too.

Shop assistants are stuck in the middle of this and I have a lot of sympathy for them!

iwishiwasonhol · 26/03/2020 21:34

i work in asda ,and yes it is 3 items but we have been told to use our common sense ,ie 12 packets of oranges no ,bunch of bannanas fine,

SushiGo · 26/03/2020 21:35

Maybe with politely querying with the manager or head office?

Given that fruit and veg is not in short supply, and 3 packs is clearly not enough to keep any family going all week and hit your 5 a day.

Hazelnutlatteplease · 26/03/2020 21:35

And no point in pursuing 5 a day if you become an increased transmission risk. Your 5 a day is less important that staying in

Ihatemyseleffordoingthis · 26/03/2020 21:36

Well there was NO fresh fruit and v little veg left in our Co-op this afternoon, so ....maybe

Frouby · 26/03/2020 21:38

I've been to morrisons today and bought 3 types of salad veg, onions, carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, parnsips, strawberries, grapes and peppers with no problems.

Aposterhasnoname · 26/03/2020 21:38

That is fucking bonkers, been to asda tonight, bought maybe 12 different fruit and veg, one pack of each, no issues at all.

qweryuiop · 26/03/2020 21:39

You don't have to go out again for more fruit. The amount of fruit you have isn't your usual diet, but it's fine. You and the family won't suddenly have a lower immune system because you didn't have strawberries and apples. Stay safe. Stay at home except for essential shopping. Extra blueberries are not essential.

The staff are adapting to a new system, and in this case are applying it very oddly, but we all need to be patient and keep things in proportion.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 26/03/2020 21:45

Yes, that happened to my ndn yesterday too & she was only ‘allowed’ to buy 1 4 pint bottle of milk not the 2 she had on the belt (which is the amount she would usually buy). I’m dreading our next shop, although it will be a click & collect. We’re a family of 7 so usually buy 2x pack of apples & bananas as well as a say clementines & pears, same with veg. We need it even more now my 4 that are school age are at home. Easter eggs will be fun too (unless they’re the latest item on the panic buyers guide to survival Wink). Oh well, we’ll find a way.

TrashPanda · 26/03/2020 21:52

I buy online from Tesco and they aren't limiting it that way, you just can't add more than 3 of anything to your basket. So I can order 3 loose pears or 3 bags of pears, 3 cartons of apple juice or 3 packs of 4. My online shop this week had pears, oranges, bananas, apples and strawberries with no issues. I think the cashier you had was being a bit overzealous with their interpretation of the rules but I can appreciate that they are under significant pressure at the moment.

It is hard trying to get a weekly shop with the restrictions though. I've got 3 kids, plus me and DP, who are usually out of the house from 8.15 until 4.30 or longer everyday, now needing lunches and snacks. They would usually have lunch at school and nursery so it's now costing more money and we're having to shop twice a week for basics because they can't all be got in one go.

mypoorfurbaby · 26/03/2020 21:57

And how many of you complaining about this then stood and clapped at 8pm.

There are still key workers finding it hard to get what they need at the end of their shift, or are too tired to queue for an hour to even get into a shop.

GabsAlot · 26/03/2020 21:58

A man today in tesco was talking to someone saying i'll have to buy all this and then queue to come back in again

i get people would usually by more but this is a different time-if they let everyone have what they want we're back to running out of food on the shelves again just go with it for now

amandalives · 26/03/2020 22:03

I do think it's odd, I read the rules as you couldn't have more than 2 or 3 of the same item I.e. not more than 3 packs of apples vs not more than 3 types of fruit. As it happens we haven't encountered this issue as have had to go to the shops twice this week due to no bread or milk available at the start of the week.