Wild act at supermarket divides TikTok users

A TikTok user was left baffled after spotting two women with a trolley full of lettuce leaves with his clip going viral.

Two shoppers have been filmed pulling apart lettuce with the act arguably in response to rising groceries costs.

A TikTok user shared the now viral video of the two women in what appears to be a Coles in Western Australia, “literally pulling off the green pieces of every iceberg lettuce”.

The women can be seen with a trolley full of loose lettuce after tearing the leaves off multiple heads in the fruit and vegetable section of the store.

Iceberg lettuce has recently been selling for up to $12 a head in some supermarkets

The act, however, has divded some online users who argued lettuce is sold by “each” and not by weight.

A TikTok user was shocked to see two shoppers load up their trolley with pieces of green iceberg lettuce. Picture: TikTok

“So they’re actually stealing from everyone who buys a lettuce after them,” one person claimed.

“Why do they think their (sic) entitled to do that?” another asked, while a third said, they would have said something to the women.

“They just have no regard for anyone,” she continued.

“Not just that but the fact they are touching all those lettuces that customers will buy. I would report it,” another added.

The video has attracted more than 186,000 views since it was posted to TikTok on Sunday.

And while many slammed the pair’s act, others came to their defence saying more often than not people throw away the wilted outer layer.

The woman appeared to be at a Cole store in Western Australia. Picture: TikTok

According to the TikTok user who filmed the act, they women were ‘pulling off the green pieces of every iceberg lettuce’. Picture: TikTok

“I mean does anyone actually eat that first layer anyway,” one person pointed out.

“I know some stores will just give away the big outside leaves from the bin as they are rubbish. Is that what they are doing here?’” a second person asked

Some people who own pet rabbits and guinea pigs said despite some stores allowing shoppers to take scraps, the women took it too far.

“Was going to say. I go to Aldi and get all the stuff that has fallen off for free for my guinea pigs, but they out here ripping them off,” one TikTok user wrote.

“You’re allowed to take the lettuce scraps from the bins for free at most grocery stores but you can’t fill a trolley taking it off the lettuces,” another said.

At the end of the clip, the TikTok user who filmed the act turns the phone back to himself and says in a sarcastic tone, “that’s very hygienic”.

News.com.au has contacted Coles for comment.

Amid rising grocery costs, the act has left TikTok users divided with some claiming it is ‘stealing’ from shoppers who buy the lettuce after them, as it’s sold by head and not weight. Picture: TikTok

According to the Consumer Price Index, between the 2021 to 2022 March Quarter, the cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages have increased by 4.3 per cent alone.

The most significant rise was in the cost of fuel which increased by 11 per cent.

In terms of groceries, the CPI found that the cost of fruits and vegetables grew by 6.7 per cent in the last year, while meat and seafoods increased by 6.2 per cent.

Bread and cereal products also increased by 3 per cent, dairy and dairy-related products by 4.1 per cent and food products by 4.2 per cent.

In fact, Australia’s soaring cost of living crisis has forced one mum to choose between buying food or taking a hot shower.

Paulene Stephanie from Redcliffe, Queensland, said she is struggling so much with rising grocery and electricity costs she sometimes skips meals to ensure her kids are properly cared for.

“When the kids are around, I’ll laugh. When they’re not, I’ve sat up at night crying over the bills,” she told Ten News.

Rising freight costs, recent extreme weather events and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine have exacerbated short and long-term supply issues and sent food and global oil prices soaring.

However, agriculture expert David Williams said that without even factoring in the war in Ukraine, weather disasters or labour shortages, “Covid-related effects alone” would have good companies increasing costs by 10 per cent this year. “One-off significant increases in grain costs will drive food inflation and increase the cost of stock feed and therefore beef and other proteins,” Mr Williams toldThe Australian.