Supermarket chain Sainsbury's has put security tags on baby formula tubs to stop them from being stolen as the cost of living crisis continues to hit families across the country.
The retailer has applied tags, which sound an alarm if not removed by a staff member at the checkout, on formula containers which cost up to £15, the Mirror reports. The tags are normally used to prevent thefts of high-value items such as perfume, aftershave and alcohol.
However, the devices can also be used sometimes to prevent shoplifters taking items that are regularly targeted, such as cheese, meat and coffee. One dad-of-one said he had been shocked to see the tags on baby milk tubs at his local Sainsbury's store in Kent.
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He said: "I thought those sort of things were reserved for big ticket items. It just shows how much the cost of living crisis is biting when items like this are being stolen on a regular basis."
The decision to place security tags on lower value items can vary from store to store, according to Sainsbury's. Baby formula has suffered supply chain issues resulting in shortages in the UK and the US in the past two years, with America particularly hard hit.
At the Staplehurst Sainsbury's branch in Kent, tubs of Aptamil follow-on milk, toddler milk, and organic, comfort and anti-reflux versions of the milk were seen with plastic tags on their lids. Smaller bottles of follow-on milk, as well as Aptamil one, two, and three-years infant, follow-on and toddler milk did not appear to have the tags, and nor did some other brands.
A Sainsbury's spokesperson said: "This is just one of a range of security measures we have in place. And the decisions to tag some items will vary from store to store."
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