‘Entitled’ act supermarket shoppers do causes stir–are you guilty?

In the world of supermarket shopping, there is a new test of character in town, and it is causing quite a stir among customers and employees.

It is not about whether you return your shopping trolley to the bay – a debate that went viral back in 2020 as the ‘Shopping Trolley Theory’ – but rather something that might seem trivial at first glance, yet could speak volumes about a person’s sense of responsibility and respect for others.

The latest litmus test that could determine whether someone is a responsible shopper or not is the act of abandoning items in the wrong place, particularly perishable goods, in the supermarket. Some supermarket employees are reportedly branding it as the epitome of ‘entitled’ behaviour.

The conversation around this topic was ignited by a post in the ALDI Fans Facebook group, where a photo depicted a packet of steak left atop a pile of furniture in the store.

The image sparked outrage and disbelief among group members, with comments ranging from calling the act ‘selfish’ and ‘disrespectful’ to expressing frustration over the wastefulness and lack of consideration for others.

‘I do not know how often I have found perishable food left in random places. People [are] forgetting how quickly it will spoil if not kept cold or frozen,’ wrote one commenter.

‘Wasting food like this is the worst,’ commented someone else. One who claimed to be a supermarket worker echoed the statement, saying, ‘We have to chuck it if it is room temperature or thawed.’

This was not an isolated incident, either. On another social media platform, shoppers also previously shared their own sightings of groceries gone astray: frozen dinners in the pet aisle, laundry detergent among the snacks, and even a rotisserie chicken cosying up to the body wash.

‘…They might as well just take the item and throw it into the nearest [dustbin] because we cannot sell it if it is thawed or at room temperature and chances are it would not be caught until it is too late,’ commented one who claimed to work at a grocery.

‘I know this all too well. We end up having to throw stuff out all the time because people are too lazy to put it back. Perfectly good products like packs of lunch meat and milk [are] just randomly left on shelves and end up going bad,’ claimed another.

‘I worked [in] retail for about four years and I still hate this with a passion. … I would not be this customer,’ wrote someone else.

Another one shared a photo of four trolleys brimming with items that had been abandoned throughout the supermarket at the end of their shift.

Frozen items must be returned to the frozen section to avoid spoilage. Image Source: Pexels / Kevin Malik

The implications of this behaviour are far-reaching from a food waste perspective.

Globally, 1.3 billion tonnes of perfectly edible food are reportedly wasted annually, with 17 per cent of that occurring at the retail and consumer levels. In the country, the statistics are even more alarming, with 40 per cent of food going to waste.

When perishable items are left out of their proper refrigerated or frozen environments, they can quickly spoil, contributing to this staggering amount of waste.

Aside from the ‘entitled’ act’s environmental impact, there is a human element to consider. Supermarket employees are left with the extra work of having to collect and restock misplaced items.

So, what can you do if you change your mind about an item? The solution is simple: take a moment to return it to where you found it. If you are in a rush, hand it to the checkout staff – they are there to help.

Meanwhile, some shoppers suggest at least placing the perishable item in a refrigerated section, like the drinks fridge, to prevent spoilage if you cannot return it to its original spot.

What are your thoughts on this matter, our YourLifeChoices readers? Are you guilty of this act?

Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below, and let us strive to be the conscientious shoppers our supermarkets – and the planet – deserve.

Also read: Are you a rude flyer? Here are the signs

Floralyn Teodoro
Floralyn Teodoro
Floralyn covers different topics such as health, lifestyle, and home improvement, among many others. She is also passionate about travel and mindful living.

6 COMMENTS

  1. The levels of narcissism in our society are skyrocketing and probably stems from indulgent parenting in the main. Parents and children should do a shift at a homeless shelter annually to appreciate what they have.

  2. Discussing, why pick the item in the first place if you didn’t want it. Sometimes I think a child shopping with a parent could be to blame. They see something they would like and put it in the trolly without asking their parent. But I think the adult shopper is to blame 99% of the time.

  3. Disgusting, why pick the item in the first place if you didn’t want it. Sometimes I think a child shopping with a parent could be to blame. They see something they would like and put it in the trolly without asking their parent. But I think the adult shopper is to blame 99% of the time.

  4. I agree this is irresponsible and upsetting as it becomes more noticeable. I suspect it is also contagious – it’s a bit of a nuisance having to return change-of-mind items to their proper place, and if others don’t care….
    This feels like just another symptom of the disintegration of our social life, which is probably the real reason it feels so upsetting to see it on the rise. However, it pales into insignificance in the context of food waste. Consider the waste perpetrated by the supermarket industry as a whole! So let’s keep it in perspective rather than defaulting to outrage over the annoying behaviour of individuals. More to the point – just don’t copy it!

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