Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Tesco in threat to fine students for squeezing a muffin

Two Italian girls were threatened with legal action by supermarket giant Tesco — for squeezing a muffin in its Exeter city centre store. The two 17-year-olds were left shocked and distressed after being stopped by security staff outside Tesco Metro in High Street. They were escorted back inside, led down to a basement room where they were questioned and told they had committed a “food contamination” offence. Staff said they had been caught red-handed on CCTV cameras squeezing a muffin. The teenagers, on an English language study course, selected a muffin using their hands rather than the tongs provided. They were asked to return to the store after paying for one muffin.

The store’s actions have brought a heated response from the host family looking after the visitors. Colin Gott, of Exeter, who was a host for the Italians, said he was amazed at what he described as an overreaction by security staff. He said: “What is going on? It’s ludicrous and an absolute farce, especially at a time when we are trying to promote Exeter and encourage visitors.



“The girls asked why they were being taken but were given no explanation until they reached some downstairs room and eventually were told that they had committed an offence, namely food contamination. They were told that they would be given a fine which would be sent to them in Italy. They had to produce their national identity cards — but the security guard couldn’t read Italian — were given a formal pre-printed advice of potential criminal action, a recommendation that they seek legal advice and the number of a London lawyer. One of the girls asked to telephone her teacher but was refused. Eventually she managed to call her group leader and they were released.”

A Tesco spokeswoman said its CCTV footage showed two girls squeezing two of three muffins — damaging them — before buying the third. She said: “They were stopped outside the shop, taken back in and told what they had done was wrong. Because of language difficulties we contacted the teacher and she was invited to come to the store to see the CCTV.”

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