The ‘unsanitary and inconsiderate’ supermarket habit that’s dividing shoppers

Not everyone appreciates your fur babies like you do (Picture: Getty Images) They may be man’s best friend, but even the most fervent dog lovers might think twice about taking them along for the weekly food shop. Still, this seems to be a growing trend, with Reddit users saying they’ve noticed an increasing number of four-legged customers roaming the supermarket aisles. On r/AskUK, one poster questioned why it was ‘suddenly acceptable’ to bring dogs into grocery stores, claiming staff and fellow shoppers were now affording the animals ‘superior rights.’ Many agreed, including @MarieCry who said she was ‘baffled’ by a woman carrying her furry friend and touching produce on a recent trip to Aldi, calling it ‘unsanitary and inconsiderate.’ Others described owners as ‘entitled’ and ‘disgusting’, recalling incidents where dogs have pooed or peed on the floor of their local supermarket and arguing ‘dogs shouldn’t be where food is sold.’ Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. But there were some who felt differently. Some shoppers say bringing dogs into supermarkets is ‘disgusting’ (Picture: Getty Images) ‘I don’t personally see the problem if they are well behaved,’ wrote @elhazelenby, while @TableSignificant341 said it ‘doesn’t bother [them] in the slightest.’ ‘Do you really think having a dog in a grocer is that unhygienic compared to the average person?’ added @Top_Tell9383. ‘They’re hardly going to be licking the fruit and shaking fur on it — if anything letting kids run amok would be less hygienic.’ Are dogs allowed in supermarkets? While shoppers are split into two distinct camps on the issue of dogs in supermarkets, official protocols on what’s allowed are anything but black and white. What is your opinion on dogs being allowed in supermarkets? Dogs should not be allowed at all.Check Only assistance dogs should be allowed.Check Well-behaved dogs can be allowed.Check I don't mind either way.Check In UK law, there’s an important distinction between assistance dogs and pets when it comes to access to food shops. Trained assistance dogs are protected under the the Equality Act 2010, and can’t be refused entry, whereas pets, therapy dogs or emotional support animals don’t have the same legal right of access, so businesses can decide on their own policies. Despite this, Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) guidance states handlers aren’t required to provide certification for assistance dogs, meaning it can be difficult for staff to differentiate — and therefore to enforce a company’s rules. UK supermarket rules on dogs Asda: Assistance dogs only across all UK stores and cafés. Tesco: While it didn’t clarify its policy on pets, a spokesperson for the retailer confirmed to Metro that assistance dogs were ‘welcome’ in all Tesco stores, and ‘owners are not required to carry an ID book to enter.’ Sainsbury’s: Assistance dogs only across all UK stores and petrol stations. Morrisons: Assistance dogs only across all UK stores. Aldi: Assistance dogs only across all UK stores. Lidl: Assistance dogs only across all UK stores. Co-op: Assistance dogs only across all UK stores. M&S: Assistance dogs only across all UK stores. How unhygienic are dogs in supermarkets? Hygiene is a common issue raised in this debate — and it’s not hard to understand why. After all, dogs walk bare-pawed on the pavement, roll around in mud, sniff each others’ bums and occasionally even eat what comes out of them. But that doesn’t mean that every dog entering a supermarket is going to spread germs all over your shopping. According to food hygiene and health and safety consultant, Sylvia Anderson, the safety risk they pose depends on whether a supermarket has ‘sensible controls’ in place. ‘Food businesses have a legal responsibility to make sure the food they sell is safe and protected from contamination,’ she tells Metro. ‘Dogs should certainly not be wandering into kitchens, food preparation areas or food storage areas, and I would also have concerns about dogs being allowed too close to open or unprotected food.’ That watermelon will need a good wash (Picture: Getty Images) In supermarkets, bakery stands, fresh produce displays, deli counters and self-service food areas are the most obvious sources of contamination, and ‘need to be properly protected’. Similarly, protocols should be put in place to ensure proper hand washing and disinfection if an animal urinates, defecates or is sick inside a food premises,’ ‘If a business chooses to be dog-friendly, that’s absolutely their decision, but it still needs to be managed properly,’ Sylvia continues. ‘They should think about where dogs are permitted, keep them away from food preparation and storage areas, protect open food, have appropriate cleaning procedures in place and make sure staff understand the rules.’ Ultimately, it comes down to owner responsibility too. A calm dog that’s well supervised and on a lead is very different to one that’s allowed to jump up against shelves, lick products, or run off on their own terrorising shoppers. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: Morrisons trialing AI smart trolley – how does it work? 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