End of an era: Supermarket bans free smiley fritz for kids due to slip hazard

Enjoying a piece of smiley fritz during a trip to the shops could become a thing of the past for some Aussie kids after one supermarket put a stop to free servings of the deli delight. Many over-60s probably recall receiving a piece to munch on when they were doing the grocery shop with their mum or recall their own children becoming excited when they passed the deli at the supermarket.

A Foodland store in the Barossa Valley in South Australia has been forced to forego the delicious treat — otherwise known devon — for hungry kids following an unfortunate mishap involving one of its customers.

The supermarket, based in Tanunda, around 70 kilometres north-east of Adelaide, advised its customers of the sad change only recently claiming fritz had become a “slip hazard”, according to The Advertiser.

In a note plastered on the window of its deli section and shared on social media Foodland wrote: “Due to slip hazards, we are no longer able to give out smiley fritz to children”.

First it was Bunnings and the onions, now it's smiley fritz – this sign was spotted at Tanunda Foodland. What do you think of this store's policy? @TimNoonan7 with the latest in 7 News at 6pm. (Photo: James Adams) #7News pic.twitter.com/oTnx8F8R3M

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) January 9, 2019

The supermarket enforced the ban after a female customer slipped on a piece of fritz that had been dropped by a child earlier this year.

While the woman was not injured and no ambulance was called, staff still had to fill out an incident report. So, to the disappointment of many parents, who use fritz to keep their children quiet during shopping trips, the ban was put in place.

This however, hasn’t been received well by frustrated Aussies who claim the actions of one child should not ruin it for the many other kids who look forward to the treat each visit to the store.

“Bloody ridiculous, are they really that afraid of lawsuits, it doesn’t have time to find the floor with most kids,” one person wrote on Twitter.

“I hope all the law firms out there are very proud of the society they have now created in the name of the mighty dollars, a world too scared to do anything in the ‘unlikely’ chance of being sued,” another added.

Read more: The iconic Bunnings sausage is undergoing a change for safety reasons

The latest decision follows outrage Bunnings created late last year when it made a change to the way it serves its much-loved sausages. Instead of placing onions on top of sausages, as is usually done, they now must be placed underneath.

https://twitter.com/up_and_away149/status/1062437232655527936

Bunnings chief operating officer Debbie Poole said in a statement that the tweak would ensure the onion doesn’t fall out and create “a slipping hazard”, and was confident it wouldn’t change how good they taste.

“Safety is always our number one priority and we recently introduced a suggestion that onion be placed underneath sausages to help prevent the onion from falling out and creating a slipping hazard,” she said.

“This recommendation is provided to the community groups within their fundraising sausage sizzle welcome pack and is on display within the gazebos when barbecues are underway.”

What do you think of the decision of the supermarket to ban the handing out fritz to kids? Do you remember enjoying the treat as a child?