Grocery shopping can be a tedious and expensive task these days, and some people feel they have to eat while they shop. Some consider it vulgar, others outright illegal. Some think it’s fine, while others claim it’s immoral.
We recently asked our followers on Facebook and Instagram, “Is it lame to eat groceries while shopping?” and they were more than welcome to comment. Here are their passionate thoughts on the subject:
That’s stealing.
In fact, over half of the commenters strongly felt that eating groceries while shopping is not only vulgar but illegal. Here are some morally correct opinions:
“You have no right to eat it unless you have paid for it.”
“If you have to weigh it at the register, don’t eat it.
“I know people who eat out of a jar of peanuts and put them back on the shelf. That’s theft. They’ve been caught, too.”
“Just yesterday I saw a woman take grapes out of a bag, tear them apart and put the contents into a produce bag to eat. She then went to the salad bar and filled containers as she ate. The produce manager and security were talking so I pointed her out.”
Grapes aren’t stealing
A surprising number of commenters felt that, with the exception of grapes, eating food without paying for it was both legally risky and morally questionable.
“I always try one small grape to see if it’s sweet, unless it says seedless. There’s no problem.”
“I always taste the grapes. I’m not going to pay $6 for grapes and then get home and they’re sour. They’re not going to like it, which is a shame. I won’t be shopping there.”
If you have a disease, it’s not stealing
One very vocal group offered exemptions for shoppers with acute or pre-existing conditions. All agreed they should keep the packages and pay for them.
“Years ago when I was pregnant, I had a craving for olives, so I bought two jars: one for home and one for the grocery store.”
“When my blood sugar drops and I feel like I can’t get anything done, I’ll sneak in a cracker or two. Shopping after work can be very stressful.”
“My grandmother was diabetic and half of my family was hypoglycemic, so sometimes we have to eat on the spot.”
Some people requested assistance.
Not content with relying solely on their own intuition, some commenters sought validation for their opinions from well-known sources.
“That is unethical. Albert Einstein said, ‘Those who ignore truth in small matters cannot be entrusted with important ones.'”
“I’m sure the Bible says you shouldn’t muzzle oxen while plowing, but I don’t know what the manager thinks about that…”
Some people were really outraged.
The angry group resented the very notion of eating groceries while shopping, regardless of whether the shopper was willing to pay for it.
“Why do people feel the need to eat at grocery stores?? Don’t stores have kitchens?? If you’re that hungry, maybe you should eat something before you shop. What I hate are people who eat food at the store with their mouths wide open, while inhaling products that aren’t technically theirs, because it’s still not theirs.”
“It’s as vulgar as going to the grocery store in your pajamas.”
“The way people eat these days is sloppy and messy… Yes, too many parents feed their kids with food crumbs everywhere… not to mention sticky fingers. It’s gross.”
“It’s vulgar and disgusting. Putting your hand on a grocery cart and putting food in your mouth? People even put their dogs in carts. That’s what bothers me more.”
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Some people just have fun
From the serious to the playful to the nostalgic, several heartwarming commenters shared their stories that made us laugh and smile.
“Actually, I learned this admittedly bad habit from my dad, who would always open a Coke bottle at the grocery store, drink it, and then show the cashier the empty bottle. That said, we lived in a small town where everyone knew each other, so no one would suspect that my dad wouldn’t buy a $1 Coke. Even if he walked into the store with his own Coke, he probably would have paid for it so he wouldn’t seem untrustworthy.”
“I see nothing wrong with eating a slice of roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy. It takes energy to walk five miles in a giant store.”
“Sipping a beer while you shop is a lot of fun and the look on people’s faces when they hand the cashier their opened 12-pack is priceless.”
Our thoughts
Of course, we have our opinions! If for any reason you need to eat while shopping, do what is necessary to protect your health. Choose items that are not sold by weight so you can pay and are not stealing. Eating grapes is technically stealing, but it’s only a small amount so I think a small mistake can be justified. As for hygiene, it’s up to you!
So the big question is: is it lame to eat groceries while shopping? My personal opinion is that it’s a little bit lame. I rarely do it, but my desire to avoid lameness disappears when exposed to the heat of a warm box of Publix chicken tenders in the passenger seat of my grocery cart. That’s when I crouch down in an empty aisle, frantically rip open the box, and eat the chicken tenders in embarrassing but peaceful fashion.
Nothing tastes better than those “stolen” chicken tenders you devour from the pet food aisle.
Sometimes you need to be an animal.
