Aldi shoppers divided as store brings in controversial change to checkouts
ALDI shoppers are divided over a major change happening at the checkouts.
The budget supermarket is asking staff to search customers' empty "bags for life" before scanning their shopping.
The controversial change has been met with outrage from some customers of the store branding the new procedure as "disgusting".
But other shoppers are quite happy saying that they "have nothing to hide" and do not mind showing their empty bags.
Customers are being asked to place their empty carrier bags on the conveyor belt before all of their shopping.
Checkout operators must then look through the bags and flag anything they find inside and place it on the checkout.
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The idea behind the new bag checks is to try and cut down on the amount of shoplifting.
Aldi said the new checks are not a national policy and are only at a small number of stores.
They added that "bag checks are only ever carried out with the consent of shoppers, and only in some stores as a short-term measure."
It added that the procedure only covers the bags shoppers are using for groceries and not handbags or personal bags.
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They also confirmed that "customers will not be stopped from making a purchase or leaving the store."
But some staff have complained that they feel "uncomfortable" confronting shoppers at the till.
One Aldi employee in Surrey said: "It's a new rule that's been brought in for some areas in the country and we really don't like it.
"Most people have reacted with confusion, but when we explain the reason why, they're ok with it.
"Others have got quite indignant about it though, and it makes us feel uncomfortable."
The employee added that people had begun stealing full bags of shopping and "hiding them under the trolley" and described it as a "Catch 22" situation.
The store member said: "The cost of food is already so high but the cost of these thefts is also being added onto everyone's food bills too."
The new measures have certainly caused a stir among Aldi's loyal customers, with some even refusing to continue shopping at the store.
One person said: "Honest people having to prove their honesty because of dishonest people, sounds about right.
"I will not be taking part in this charade. Bye Aldi."
And another added: "I think it's disgusting to treat shoppers like they are shoplifters. It has got worse since the self-scan."
While another commented: "It's disgusting that the world has come to this isn't it."
But some people are happy to have their bags checked and don't see what all the fuss is about.
One person said: "Not an issue, just put your bags in the front and then straight on the trolley.
And another added: "If you have nothing to hide then there shouldn't be anything for you to worry about."
Another customer said: "I just do it now before the cashier asks."
Aldi is not the only supermarket to implement new measures in a bid to control the rise in shoplifting.
The Co-operative has started to put empty coffee jars on the shelves so that customers have to ask if they want to purchase the item.
And Marks & Spencer has also started displaying just a single steak on its food shelves, asking customers to contact staff if they would like to buy one.
As food prices have rocketed and shoplifting has increased supermarkets have started using security tags more frequently on everyday essentials including packs of butter and blocks of cheese.
Before the cost-of-living crisis security tags were typically used on bottles of spirits and higher-value items such as razors.
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Meanwhile Aldi has once again been crowned the cheapest supermarket for a basket of shopping.
And recently shoppers have been rushing to the supermarket to grab an 89p Subway dupe that allows you to recreate your favourite sandwich at home.