Story Archive

Blimey

A catering chef stopped by her local Asda supermarket in Wallsend, North Tyneside, England. As she checked out, the cash register flashed a message when she tried to buy two limes: “Amount Exceeded, Authorisation Required”. A shop assistant explained that “more than one lime is classed as a weapon,” said Marisa Zoccolan, 31, “because they contain citric acid which could be squirted in someone’s eyes.” When Zoccolan took her story to newspapers, Asda said it was all a joke: the problem was with the scanner. “We know that sometimes health and safety rules can seem a bit plum crazy,” an Asda spokeswoman said, “but on this occasion it’s a case of one of our colleagues indulging their sub-lime sense of humor.” The store offered Zoccolan some free limes for her trouble. (RC/PA) ...After which the police arrived to investigate her weapons cache.