Tesco is having to put on extra security as poor people are fighting each other for reduced fruit and vegetables, a former minister claimed today.
Labour's Fiona Mactaggart told the Commons a constituent had reported seeing shoppers fighting on three separate occasions when discounted items were brought out at a Tesco store in Slough, Berkshire.
The MP for Slough, intervening during a debate on food banks, told shadow environment secretary Maria Eagle: "I wanted to inform you and the Commons that people aren't only depending on food banks, that poor people in Slough are now fighting each other in Tesco when the discount vegetables and fruit come out...
"My constituent texted me yesterday to say he had observed these fights on three separate occasions when the discount fruit and vegetables came out and that Tesco is now having to put security on to deal with that.
In response to Ms Mactaggart's comments about extra supermarket security when cheap fruit and vegetables are sold in its Slough store, a Tesco spokeswoman said: "The reduced to clear offers at the end of the day are really popular with our customers, so when the store is busy we have colleagues on hand to manage the reductions to make sure all our customers can shop safely."
