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A QLD shopper has taken to the Woolworths Facebook page to complain about the healthy free fruit initiative.

The shopper claims half chewed fruit left on shelves is putting people at risk of illness.

“I wish to complain about the new policy of giving fruit to kids while their parents are shopping in your store. Children chew on the fruit and then these pieces of fruit are left on shelves with other food stuff we wish to purchase and in the trolleys we put our food in,” the post says.

She continues, “Children can have colds, flu and other contractible ailments as does the rest of the community. This is a health hazard, if you wish to give fruit to children, do it as they are leaving the store.

I cannot imagine why the Health Department could condone this. I will ask the Department this, as I do not wish to become ill whilst shopping in Woolworths. Thank you.”

Woolworths responded, “Hey Mambo, we assure you our customers’ health and safety is a priority so we make sure that all fruits are washed before being placed in our baskets.

We’ll definitely share your feedback with our Teams to be mindful of left overs and remains as we do want to maintain the cleanliness of our stores. Thanks!”

The post has received nearly 4000 comments.

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Are you happy with the free fruit initiative or do you see problems with it?

Share your comments below.

Image via Getty

  • Woolworths are doing an awesome thing and you cant blame them for peoples disgusting habits.

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  • Great initiative of Woolworths. The initiative of costumers to leave half eaten fruit around is rather anti-social I agree.

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  • I think the free fruit initiative is great, however, we do not use it and I think it’s for younger children. I hate the abuse of it when I see high school kids go to the tubs and fill up their pockets with the fruit and walk off. I do think it is a great initiative though.

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  • I don’t shop at Woolworth often , but I think it is a good initiative.Kids have to be encouraged to eat healthy.

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  • There’s always got to be a troll! I have never, in the whole time they have been offering the free fruit ever seen a chewed piece of fruit anywhere in a store. There’s not that much stuff for free these days, I think it’s a great idea! Some people are just ridiculous!

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  • Crazy, I think it’s a great initiative to have the free fruit.

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  • Whats the difference between giving kids free fruit & giving them other foods while shopping
    There is food scraps everywhere
    And is this woman saying that if someone was to get fruit not from the free section but from the shelf that kids wouldn’t do the exact same thing

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  • My little ones munch on their fruit and throw it in the bins usually by the exit, it’s not a big issue in the stores we usually frequent.

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  • My 4 yr old loves his fruit and always grabs some when we are out shopping. Once he is done, he will go back to the bins (while I’m watching) to discarded his rubbish. It’s not that hard to find a bin

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  • Parents should be more aware of where their child is disposing the fruit I care a lunch bag with me so if they don’t want it I put it in that then when I see a bin it goes in the bin
    It not Woolies caught I have seen take away coffee cups on shelf’s and biscuits or I was at the movies with my daughter seeing Peter Rabbit and the amount of mess parents aloud kids leave is disgusting one parent said just leave it the cleaners will clean it up , until I turned around and said no there are bins at the door put it in there people are just lazzy

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  • My kids love having a piece of fruit when we go to the shops but I end up having to carry around what’s left over or the skin/peel as there isn’t any visible bins available to dispose of rubbish. I only just discovered a very tiny bin slot near the banana stall the other day but no where else.

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  • I’ve always thought it was a good idea. Since the fruit is free for the children then Mum’s and Dad’s should make sure the fruit goes in the bin in store and not in the trolley. Also in Woolworths WA before you go in to the shop there are disinfectant wipes to use for your trolleys.

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  • free fruit is great and there is a bin near the fruit in our stores. also plenty of bins when you leave the store, you just have to watch your kids and teach them to use the bins and have good manners about it all

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  • Maybe there should only be fruit you peel the skin off and there should be a bin provided for the skin to be placed in. It would restrict the choices but it may help resolve the issue. At least “little fingers” are occupied for awhile while parent/s are shopping.

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  • I think it is a great initiative, parents just need to keep an eye on their kids and what is done with the fruit.

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  • Think that the parents should watch the children – don’t they have to do this at home? Stop blaming the stores that are trying their best.


    • I agree, it is not Woolworth’s fault that some parent’s are not teaching their kids properly about disposing of rubbish, this happens everywhere not just in supermarkets.

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  • The free fruit is an awesome idea, my boys love munching on some fresh fruit (while we shop). I used to actually go and purchase a few pieces and then shop!! Now I don’t have to. My only suggestion would be a little fruit bin, placed in a sensible spot for the rubbish (as I have to take the peel or core and place in little plastic bag and bin once done). I love the idea that our kids are getting a healthy snack (that is a great thing) 🙂

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  • I do not shop at Woolworth much still think the free fruit is a good idea. We can get this offer at a local shop here and do not see it been abused, have never seen pieces of fruit or skins laying around.

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  • Her comments are the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard. I think it’s a great initiative. It encourages children to pick up a piece of fruit to eat.
    It’s the responsibility of the parent that the child is with to throw out any uneaten fruit.
    Our local Woolworths has this initiative and my children who are aged 11 & 13 love to eat a piece of fruit while we shop. I get a plastic bag from the fruit/vegetables area ( there’s heaps of them around on rolls). Place the banana or apple core in the bag and put it in the bin that’s just outside of the store when you finish your shopping.The ladies at our Woolworths store sometimes even throw the bag in a bin that’s behind the counter for their customers.


    • I agree with her comments to Woolworths, it is a health hazard, people (including children) should not be allowed to eat within the store. Baskets of free fruit should be offered at the cash registers as you walk out.



      • I also love that the kids can munch and crunch as we shop. I see heaps of people snacking while they shop, there certainly isn’t a health hazard about to take place. I think Woolworth are great thinking of our kids with a health snack while we shop.


      • Says the childless germophobe. Seriously if that is what they have to complain about then their lives must be otherwise perfect. I still remember the days when people were offered samples of food to eat while walking around the store so I dont see that eating in a food store is a health hazard. It is certainly not a health hazard as the stores are cleaned throughout the day so a tiny bit of half eaten fruit is going to grow minimal germs in the short time before it is removed. Frankly the biggest health hazard in any store is the money. Money is a cesspool of microorganisms and yet people still handle their food and money at the same time.

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  • Woolworths are trying to help. Free fruit is a wonderful thing for the children and if their parents are so worried about washing it then make sure the child chooses a piece of fruit that can have the skin peeled. Secondly Woolworths supply antibacterial wipes at the entrance to the store so trolleys etc can be cleaned over….two great incentives that need a round of applause.
    And to those shoppers that do happen to spot a leftover/partly eaten piece of fruit …be proactive and inform a staff member.


    • Antibacterial wipes just add toxic ingredients to the already health hazard.

    Reply

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