Fury as bins overflow with stockpilers’ out-of-date food panic bought in coronavirus supermarket raid
SHOPPERS who stockpiled fresh food at supermarkets have left bins stuffed with out-of-date supplies. Photos have emerged online of rubbish bins overflowing after coronavirus panic buying left shelves empty across the country. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates The pictures, apparently taken on a street in the Midlands and […]
SHOPPERS who stockpiled fresh food at supermarkets have left bins stuffed with out-of-date supplies.
Photos have emerged online of rubbish bins overflowing after coronavirus panic buying left shelves empty across the country.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
The pictures, apparently taken on a street in the Midlands and posted to Facebook, show uneaten bananas, packs of cooked meat and full loaves of bread piling up in green bins after going out of date.
The post on Facebook read: “This is what panic buying really looks like, waste, waste and more waste.
“A normal shop is all that’s needed, not only do the stores stay stocked longer, less people in said stores, win win. Just take a few minutes to think.”
Some in the Facebook group, created to name and shame shops raising their prices due to the virus, alleged that the rubbish may have been left by international students who had to rush to catch flights home after the university lessons were suspended and many international borders closed.
Certain commenters said this was an understandable reason for getting rid of the waste, but others argued that the unwanted groceries could have been donated to a foodbank or given to neighbours, the Coventry Telegraph reported.
One group member asked: “Why couldn’t it have been given away to someone who would have been grateful for it, rather than it being binned?”
While another added: “They now need to be fined for not using the correct recycling bin.”
The photos sparked a furious backlash online.
On Twitter, user @queentilli, wrote: “There should be financial penalties for this kind of thing.”
And another, @Ant_CFC_203, commented: “Disgraceful. I hope these people look back and realise they have let themselves and their communities down.”
WHAT A WASTE
The shocking photos come after Brits stockpiled a whopping £1billion worth of food in preparation for lockdown.
Despite empty shelves appearing across the country, the CEOs of major supermarkets have constantly assured shoppers that there will be no food shortages or disruption to the supply chain due to the coronavirus.
Panic buying has even forced supermarkets to impose limits on the amount that shoppers can buy for the first time since the Second World War.
Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda have set a limit of three for any item and two for essential products, such as toilet roll and handwash.
Supermarkets have also been forced to cap the number of shoppers in store to help people stick to the two metres distance rule put in place by the government.
Stores are now counting the number of shoppers who enter to get their groceries to ensure they’re not overly busy.
VIRUS SPREAD
The coronavirus death toll surged to 1,019 in the UK after 260 people died in the last 24 hours.
There are currently 17,089 in Britain who have tested positive for Covid-19.
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But today Brits were seen flocking to parks and beaches, despite warnings that stricter lockdown rules could come into force.
And government advisers have suggested “greater enforcement” of social distancing policies could be needed if the numbers continue to rise.
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