Kate Lancaster with the pot of fruit she bought at Tesco (Picture: SWNS)

A woman buying a pot of fruit at Tesco claims she was asked for ID because it could ferment and turn into alcohol.

Kate Lancaster, 37, said that when she bought watermelon and grapes the till flashed up as ‘requiring ID’ meaning the checkout operator had to verify she was over 18.

She said she sent an email and was told that a new policy meant ‘fruit will be age verified in case natural fermentation takes place’.

Kate, from Plymouth, Devon, said: ‘When I got the response from Tesco I told my friend at work and we fell about laughing – it’s just incredulous. You couldn’t make it up.’




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Tesco later said it was meant as a joke and have sent her a basket of fruit as a gesture of goodwill.

In her email, which also detailed complaints about customer service Tesco, Kate wrote: ‘I used your self service tills, and there was a problem with the melon which came up as security tagged.’

The Tesco worker who replied to Kate apologised and promised to give staff at the store additional customer service training.

She was using the self service tills at Tesco Metro in Plymouth (Picture: SWNS)

Kate said the idea was ‘crazy’ and goes against policies to encourage children to eat more fruit and veg.

She said: ‘They would be doing the exact opposite to what is recommended, they promote healthy eating in kids.

‘Me and my friend chatted about it at work and I really wanted to get a response on it because it’s crazy.’

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Kate posted on Tesco’s Facebook page on Monday asking them to clarify the policy and she was eventually told it had been a mistake.

‘I put it on Facebook and my friends picked up on it and said it was insane. It just seemed like such a bizarre reason,’ she added.

A Tesco employee wrote: ‘I’m really sorry that you received this email and please let me assure you that we will not be asking for ID for fruit in our stores.’

Tesco spokesperson said, ‘Our customer service colleague’s comment about natural fermentation was meant as a joke – we’re sorry if it was taken literally.

‘Of course we have no plans to age restrict fruit sales. Our team have apologised for any confusion and are sending Mrs Lancaster a fruit basket as a gesture of goodwill.’