Asda shoppers told ‘only touch items if you’re going to buy them’
ASDA and Aldi shoppers have been advised to limit what they touch in stores in a bid to prevent coronavirus spreading.
The measures have been taken to try to protect both shoppers and staff alike.
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In a message on its website, Asda tells shoppers to "TOUCH LESS", and to "pick up only what you intend to buy".
The measures were introduced earlier this month as part of new hygiene controls by the supermarket.
It wrote in its online blog at the time: "If you need to visit our stores, you will see colleagues at the doors to maintain safe customer numbers to help with social distancing.
"There will also be clear signage, directional barriers and floor markings to help you move around our store easily and maintain a 2-metre distance from other customers and our colleagues.
What measures are supermarkets taking?
HERE'S what supermarkets have said about touching items in store:
- Aldi: Some staff may advise against touching trolleys you don't plan to use
- Asda: Advises against touching items you don't plan to buy
- Iceland: Did advise against touching items you don't plan to buy but has since removed this guidance
- Lidl: Bakery tongs have been removed and staff will now bag fresh items.
- Morrisons: No advice in place
- Sainsbury's: No advice in place
- Tesco: No advice in place
"You are allowed to bring your children and other members of your household to our stores, but we ask that you keep this to a minimum to help us maintain social distancing advice.
"We’re asking customers to only touch items they intend to purchase and to use cashless payment wherever they can to minimise contact."
Aldi hasn't introduced limits on touching food in stores, but it says some staff may ask that customers only touch trolleys they intend to use.
The discounter has introduced sanitisation stations at the front of stores so it is easy for shoppers to disinfect their hands, trolleys and baskets before doing their shop.
Meanwhile, Lidl has temporarily removed self-service tongs from its fresh bakery section and will instead pre-bag items for shoppers.
It says it will "keep an eye on this" and change the way it's doing things if necessary but it doesn't have any other restrictions on touching items in store.
Tesco told us it doesn't have a "no touch" policy in place as shoppers often need to pick up products to check for allergens and ingredients.
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Iceland had told customers they must buy any items they touch.
But it's removed the guidance from its website after coming under fire from one paramedic who slammed the frozen food specialist for treating NHS staff like "lepers".
Other shoppers online have raised concerns about what happens if they need to check labels for allergy information and use by dates before purchasing.
The measures follow a number of initiatives designed by supermarkets to help protect shoppers amid the coronavirus epidemic.
These include special opening hours or designated shopping times and discounts for NHS workers and the vulnerable and elderly.
Many supermarkets have also introduced plastic shields around checkouts and given protective visors to staff, as well as introduced floor markers to ensure shopper social distance in queues.
In addition, most supermarkets have limited the number of shoppers in stores - with some only allowing one person per household.