Aussie Supermarket Cracks Down On People Breaking Off Broccoli Stems To Save Money

An Australian supermarket is cracking down on what they call 'theft' after shoppers were caught breaking the stems off broccoli to save a buck.

As inflation continues, many Aussies are thinking of creative ways to dodge surging prices, and this broccoli hack went viral around the country.

Some reports even say broccoli has gone up to $11.90 (USD $​​8.18 or £6.75) a kilo, leaving shoppers feeling the brunt of this cost of living crisis.

However, despite rising prices, grocers are fed up with one supermarket even displaying a sign outside the fruit and veg section warning shoppers not to snap off stems.

The sign read: “ATT customers. You must not break the stems of the broccoli.

“This is classed as theft. All broccoli purchases will be checked at the registers. Thanks, Management.”

The sign also said that all broccoli would be checked at the counter before purchase is made.

The sign, which was posted on social media by radio station 3AW Breakfast, left many users outraged.

One person wrote: “Technically not theft if you’re leaving it and taking what you pay for.”

Another said: “It’s not theft. That shop needs to understand contract law. The contract between customer and shop in agreeing on a) the item and b) the price. You’re not stealing it. You’re paying for what portion you want/need. Where’s this shop? I’ll break them stem off.”

A third person wrote: “How is it theft when you are leaving it in the store.”

While others vilified the broccoli stem breakers.

One person said: “Do you peel an orange before you buy it?”

Another wrote: “You are ruining a product because other people are unlikely to buy just the stem. How is it not inappropriate to do?

“If it was your business how would you feel about it?”

A third person commented: “I don’t understand this, I only eat the stalks.”

While another wrote: “Stems are so useful. Who on earth wouldn’t want them?”

Following reports of customers altering the leafy vegetable, a TikTok user named Jenn Shaw posted a video of how to utilise all parts of broccoli.

In the video, she purchases leftover discarded stems at a supermarket and uses them to cut into small chunks, ideally for a salad or stir fry.

Many users applauded Shaw for not wasting the vegetable, with one person writing: “I like the stalks raw, they're sweeter and juicier than the florets.”

While another said: “I actually can't believe how many people don't know that the stem has way more nutritional value than the flowers.”