UK supermarkets have now put security tags to basic food items like cheese, as the cost of living crisis continues to bite.
Reacting to the move, social media users have shared pictures of security tags, which are usually attached to alcohol bottles, placed on everyday items such as Aldi cheese retailing at £3.99.
One social media user said “you know it’s getting bad when shops security tag their cheese.”
You know it’s getting bad when shops security tag their cheese 🧀 pic.twitter.com/T55KjytI0l
— Deals Deals Deals (@giftidea01) July 5, 2022
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However, Aldi is not the only store to introduce security tags on food items, symbol group retailer the Co-op has also tagged its £8 lamb chops, as well as milk cartons.
If you think Lurpak is bad – the local Aldi and Coop have started security tagging food. There was a GPS protected tag on a pack of lamb chops as well… #ThisMorning #CostOfLivingCrisis pic.twitter.com/ajUSNsZIeE
— Tam (@Celeste_Tam42) July 5, 2022
It comes as #Lurpak was trending on Twitter following its price rises at supermarkets, with Iceland selling the spread for an eye-watering £9.35 for the 1kg tub.
Sainsbury’s online and in-store has listed the 750g tub for £7.25.
One social media user said: “Britain in 2022… Lurpak butter is at £6 a tub in Asda and even has a security tag on it. Mental.”
Britain in 2022… Lurpak butter is at £6 a tub in ASDA and even has a security tag on it.
Mental! 😂🤦🏼♂️ pic.twitter.com/ZxOocgYeZg
— Charlie Bennett (@CharIieBennett) July 5, 2022
However, the butter manufacturer said the price of its products have increased so that dairy farmers get a fair deal.
Other products which have been tagged include Morrisons children’s vitamins, retailing for £8.50 and Tesco’s tubs of baby milk.
The move comes as the UK faces the worst inflation in 40 years, climbing 9.1% in the 12 months to May, the highest since at least February 1982.
Just yesterday the CEO of Sainsbury’s, Simon Roberts, revealed that pressure on household budgets “will only intensify over the remainder of the year” as the Big 4 grocer pledges to invest more money to improve value for customers.
Roberts said: “We really understand how hard it is for millions of households right now and that’s why we are investing £500 million and doing everything we can to keep our prices low, especially on the products customers purchase most often.”
