THAT’S CORE THAN MY JOB’S WORTH
Rotten shopworker bins free apples because kids didn’t eat them in store
AN ANGRY mother has told how a jobsworth at her local supermarket confiscated her children’s free apples and threw them in the bin.
Tesco have apologised to Louise Carey after the incident at their store in Penicuik, Midlothian.
The grocery giants run a healthy eating scheme that allows kids to take a free piece of fruit from a basket in their shops.
But when Louise’s two-year-old daughter Kyla and seven-year-old son David tried to leave the shop with an apple each, an overzealous worker challenged them.
She refused to let the family take the free fruit outside and binned the apples in front of them, leaving little Kyla in tears.
Hairdresser Louise, 30, said: “Both of the kids took an apple from the basket when we arrived at the shop.
“We are in there almost every day and they usually eat the fruit as we go round the aisles, but this time they were running around a bit and left the apples in the trolley.
“We went through the selfservice checkout and a worker came over and said to me, ‘I think you have forgotten something.’
“At first I didn’t understand what she was talking about, but then she said that I hadn’t paid for the apples. I explained that the apples were free from the box and thought that would be the end of it.
“But the woman refused to accept that and told me that they had to be eaten while the children were in the store.
“She then took the perfectly good apples and threw them in the bin.”
Louise said: “I couldn’t believe my eyes – what a silly and mean thing to do. Kyla burst into tears.
“Why on earth would you have a Free Fruit for Kids box, and then swipe the stuff away from children at the door? It’s just crazy.”
When the Record approached Tesco, a spokesman said: “Our Free Fruit for Kids initiative allows children to help themselves to a piece of fruit to eat in store while their parents shop.
“We’re sorry for any confusion and hope to see Louise in store again soon.”
The scheme, the brainchild of a customer assistant in Lincolnshire, was launched last summer and runs in more than 800 stores.
It has proved a big hit with children and parents. Tesco claim to have given out 20million pieces of fruit since July last year.