Have you ever wondered how clean the unpackaged bread in the supermarket is?
- TBA
- May 1, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 25
The cause of the matter originated from a post by a certain blogger in the UK some time ago:
‘Is there no one else who finds it strange that unpackaged bread in supermarkets is exposed like that, consumers can freely touch and select it with their hands?’
And this blogger also stated, ‘I don’t care whether vegetables and other foods are wrapped in outer packaging, because I will peel, clean, or cook such foods before eating’, implicitly meaning bread, which is meant to be eaten directly, doesn’t even have a cabinet to cover it or packaging!
And others are still touching it with their hands! So, am I eating bread or human bacteria?
Many others shared similar sentiments:
“I once saw someone sneeze while selecting bread…”
“I used to work in the food service industry, and I would never eat unpackaged food placed on shelves. Before consumers search for food, they may cough, spit, not wash their hands properly after going to the bathroom, pick their noses…”
“The last time I saw a child at the supermarket, she took a donut, tasted it, and put it back, and the adult next to her did nothing…”
Why are some breads in supermarkets not packaged?
There are probably two reasons. One is that some breads are fried first, and the high temperature makes plastic packaging produce harmful substances to the human body; the other is that packaging residue garbage is easily generated, which is not conducive to environmental protection.
The hygiene issues of bread in British supermarkets have also sparked discussions before. Previously, a supermarket was exposed in a video. There were mice running around in the basket containing baked bread, and there were also small insects flying around…
To avoid causing discomfort, the editor will not include images. What started as a discussion about bread in the baking area soon spread to the fruit and vegetable area. Originally thought to be an innocent victim, after understanding it, it turns out it’s not wronged at all~
Unpackaged fruits and vegetables, equally guilty?
Some netizens said that unpackaged fruits and vegetables are also not within their selection range, because when they were shopping in a supermarket once, they saw someone who had just wiped their nose go and pick lettuce, and then put it back because they were dissatisfied~
This netizen believes:
“Although lettuce will be washed at home before eating, I feel like I can’t wash off the taste of their mucus. I have psychological barriers, sorry~”
Some netizens also believe that some women’s nails are too long, piercing into the flesh of the fruit, wouldn’t the bacteria also get in? Then I can’t eat it.
Many British netizens are posting, “When will the wind of 315 blow to the UK?” At the same time, some netizens have stood up to speak for bread and fruits:
“French people often hold unpackaged baguettes, and casually place them, then hold them after handling coins, and then eat the bread directly without washing their hands. Many French people do this every day, they still live well, and are very long-lived.”
“I don’t like seeing plastic oceans, plastic is particularly harmful to bread.”
Some netizens living in Japan also said that bread and fruits do not necessarily need packaging because it would generate a lot of unnecessary packaging residue garbage. Japan often over-packages, wrapping food in layer after layer of bags, which to a certain extent affects the environment.
Everyone knows that many goods in British supermarkets are taxed, and sometimes taxes are directly added to the price of goods. But some products are tax-free, such as the following categories:
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Meat and poultry
Fish and seafood
Dairy products, including milk, cheese, and yogurt
Bread and grain products
Canned or frozen foods, such as canned vegetables and frozen meats
Snacks, such as chocolate, potato chips, etc.
You all noticed, right?
Although your bread may not be satisfactory in terms of packaging, it is tax-free!
It should be noted that some processed foods or beverages may be considered exempt from tax, but may also be affected by specific tax regulations. Therefore, the specific situation may vary, please check the product label or consult the store staff before purchasing.
If you want to open a business and want to know which products are tax-free, TB Accountants has many tax-saving tips to share with you!
So, would you still buy unpackaged bread from your local supermarket?
