A new height appeared to have been reached in nonsensical health and safety rules, when a Tyneside supermarket ruled that limes were classified as dangerous weapons if bought in quantity.
A sales assistant working at ASDA’s Wallsend store dreamt up the explanation when a faulty self-service till warned that authorisation was necessary after two of the offending fruits were placed on the scale. Customer Marisa Zoccolan explained that when she had called a member of staff to assist, she was told that buying more than one lime is classed as obtaining a weapon because they contain citric acid, which could be squirted into someone’s eyes.
The supermarket later backtracked and said that Marisa was a victim of a staff member’s humour, and offered some complimentary limes as compensation.
