To think that the free fruit offer in tesco shouldn't be abused

[Frazzled50yrold]

Was shopping in tesco about half hour before closing last Sunday. I noticed a 30 something yr old female filling a plastic bag with the oranges/apples/bananas which are provided free for children. Initially I wondered how she would pay for them as they were all mixed together then realised she wasn't going to as she went up to her husband at the self service till and walked out with him. I'd estimate she had at least 20 pieces of fruit, it made me so cross

To put it another way, I think there is often a highly simplistic and slightly brainless equation on Mumsnet between morality (good/bad) and rule-following or law-abiding behaviour. I find this slightly goody-two-shoesey as an attitude, and am very far from convinced the two are remotely the same. Therefore, I believe that a critical distance from rules is important. I am also a feminist who is sick of hearing timid women feeling they can't do things because they go against the explicit or implicit rules of some game or other.

Are there really people on here who wouldn't let their child have an orange because they've already had an apple and it's greedy?

Yes, its called teaching them self control and that they dont need to be chewing the whole damn time.

What is the obsession with snacks? Whole generations have managed to somehow cling to life by eating three meals a day, I am sure that the latest generation of children could manage it too, with appropriate support and counselling of course

Surely it's common courtesy to just take 1 piece. No need for any more!

Are there really people on here who wouldn't let their child have an orange because they've already had an apple and it's greedy? Jesus.

You should have seen the Honey thread!

The sign also clearly say a piece of fruit

And underneath "Only one piece per child" so I hope that the parents who are shovelling 4 oranges into their kids are buying them.....

Don't feel sorry for Tesco anytime soon. At least the woman is feeding her kids healthily!

I know an old lady who doesn't go in Tesco anymore... the security guard had to drag her out for stealing 'have a word' with her for sampling the grapes before buying.

At least the woman is feeding her kids healthily!

Who says she has kids?

My mistake I do apologise.

At least the kids I presume she has is eating healthily, if not herself, or her rabbit.... let's just hope someone benefits, rather than them ending up in the bin!

Are there really people on here who wouldn't let their child have an orange because they've already had an apple and it's greedy?

These people are no fun. When DD2 was a baby she would eat any amount of blueberries put in front of her so once I bought half a kilo of them just to see how many she would eat. One nil to the baby, I was 6 quid down and it was three days of purply-blue shits. Her nappies looked like a starling had shit in them!

Yes, its called teaching them self control and that they dont need to be chewing the whole damn time. What is the obsession with snacks? Whole generations have managed to somehow cling to life by eating three meals a day, I am sure that the latest generation of children could manage it too, with appropriate support and counselling of course

Totally agree. Well said.

I am glad not to be a situation where I need to take food offered for free, if she needs the fruit then she has done what needs doing to feed her self/children. What is it to you?

Lots of children, before the snack, also went hungry.

Leaving aside the morality of taking more than one piece of fruit - surely if you take it outside the shop uneaten its shoplifting? Given that it's provided to be eaten while you shop, not to take home?

I know it's in a box marked "free fruit", but might someone not find themselves having to make awkward explanations to security guards if they're spotted wandering through the tills not paying for a bag of fruit? It's not clear at that point whether the fruit was from the free box or from the regular displays of fruit.

I know it's in a box marked "free fruit", but might someone not find themselves having to make awkward explanations to security guards if they're spotted wandering through the tills not paying for a bag of fruit?

Depends on the circumstances and at Tescos discretion I'd think. Was in tescos earlier. DCs both got one piece of fruit. (11yo an apple - 8yo a banana). 8yo hadn't finished his banana by the time we got through the checkout because he messes about too much sometimes.

Didn't get admonished on the way out.

But yes I suppose wandering through the checkout with a big bag of fruit will look conspicuous.

Lots of children, before the snack, also went hungry.

Well yes, because of poverty. If a family is so poor that they are going hungry I very much doubt they will take a trip to tesco for a free apple, they will be going to the food bank to try and survive

By the powers of suggestion I drove to the next town to go to Tesco today, and DD got a banana to smear down her front eat as we went round. Fun going to a different supermarket for once.

Out of sight out of mind. If it's not hurting or affecting you why do you care? Surely you can't be jealous of the fruit gaining woman? She's obviously desperate, something you never want to be. Just be grateful you'll never face to belittle yourself to such desperate measures and leave it at that.

Have*

My son loves to have the free fruit when we shop at Tesco but he's allowed one piece only, as I always thought taking more was taking the piss.

Yes I agree.

Agree with Hudson saying it is grabby.

Take one piece of fruit, so that other people's kids can enjoy it. There's no need to gorge on more than one piece or to bag it up and steal ffs.

Cauliflower You do realise the poverty epidemic in this country? I'm sure if there was 'no need' they wouldn't steal.

Who steals fruit for fun?! You'd steal a bottle of prosecco and some choccies.... nice face cream perhaps.... organic chocolate..... not free fucking fruit!

Of course some people will take the piss. They can steal as much fruit as they want and nobody can ask them not to. They can't walk out with other things because they are expected to pay for them.

Are you saying that people only steal if they "need" something? That would be a lovely world.

I wish the free food thing still worked on my twins. They're 16 now so they're wise to my methods. They used to be able to get through an entire punnet of strawberries in the time it took us to get to the till.