Major update to supermarket rules as shortages start to ease
TWO MAJOR supermarkets have changed their rules around limits on fresh fruit and vegetables - and it's good news for customers.
Asda has removed limits of three on cucumbers, lettuce, salad bags, broccoli, cauliflower and raspberries.
But customers looking to get hold of tomatoes and peppers will still be limited to three each.
Asda said tomato and pepper stock levels should be back to normal within a couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, Morrisons has removed the limits of two on cucumbers, while limits of two remain on tomatoes, lettuce and peppers.
And Lidl said restrictions on all its products will be lifted by Monday.
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It comes weeks after a number of supermarkets started rationing certain fresh products due to bad weather and transport issues in north Africa and Europe.
Tesco, Aldi and Lidl limited purchases of peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers to three items per person.
The Sun has contacted all supermarkets for an update on their rules.
Issues began in January as cold weather affected tomatoes ripening, followed by heavy rain, flooding and cancelled ferries, which impacted the volume of fruit and veg arriving into Britain.
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Spain, one of Britain's other major sources of stock, was also hit with bad weather and ferry journeys were axed.
Producers were also reporting having to cut back on their use of greenhouses due to higher electricity prices.
Amidst the shortages, environment secretary Therese Coffey told MPs the public should should eat turnips instead of tomatoes.
Meanwhile, deputy president of the National Farmers' Union (NFU) Tom Bradshaw, said a reliance on foreign imports had left the UK vulnerable to "shock weather events".
It's not the first time in recent months shoppers have been faced with empty supermarket shelves.
Previously in 2017, poor growing conditions in Europe - largely in Italy and Spain - meant Brits saw a lack of vegetable stock in their local shops.
Experts at the time estimated the shortage would cost UK supermarkets at least £8million.
There was also concern in 2018 that an onion shortage could occur because of hot weather damaging crops.
In the same year, the growth of peas was also impacted by hot weather.