Aldi puts security tags on kitchen staple as grocery prices soar

Aldi shoppers in the UK have noticed the supermarket putting security tags on basic grocery items such as cheese blocks to tackle shoplifting amid soaring food prices.

One shopper shared a photo of several £3.99 ($AU7.02) blocks of Aldi cheddar cheese in the fridge at their local store wrapped in security tags often seen used on bottles of alcohol.

However, it's not just cheese that supermarkets like Aldi are locking behind security tags or shoplifting warning signs – it's also other dairy items, vitamins, period products, and even baby formula cartons.

It comes as Britain's largest dairy producer, Arla Foods, warned consumers that grocery prices will continue to rise to cover the rising fuel, fertiliser and feed costs of dairy farmers.

Arla Foods issued the warning after customers saw Lurpak butter selling for more than £9 a pack in supermarkets.

A 1kg tub of the same butter is currently available at Ocado for £9, while Sainsbury's and Tesco list a 750g tub for £7.25 and £6.75 respectively.

Yahoo News Australia contacted Aldi Australia for comment.

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UK faces worst inflation in 40 years

Britain faces the worst inflation in 40 years, climbing 9.1 per cent in the 12 months to May, which is the highest it's been since February 1982 when it reached 10.2 per cent.

To counter the growing threat of shoplifting, thought to be driven by the escalating cost of living crisis, Tesco, Lidl and Sainsbury's recently began fitting security tags to tubs of baby formula.

Some supermarkets also display notices in the baby food aisle alerting shoppers that surveillance is targeting that area to deter shoplifting.

Similarly in a London Morrisons, security tags were placed on £8.50 ($AU 14.95) children's multi-vitamins, again shocking shoppers.

One woman even accused Tesco of "clear sexism" on Twitter when she shared a photo of a shoplifting warning on shelves with baby formula and women's period products.

"This is so disappointing - and clear sexism from Tesco," she added.

"In a country as rich as the UK, women & parents shouldn't have to shoplift the essentials, or be reported if they do," she added.

'Stop being shocked'

Marc Gander, spokesperson for The Consumer Action Group, was quoted by The Guardian as saying that while shoppers are right to be alarmed about escalating grocery prices, "they had better stop being shocked because that's the way it’s going".

He suggested that shoppers ditch big name brands and shop supermarket own brands to save money amid rising costs.

"There are lots of other alternatives around including own brands which are very much cheaper," he said. "It's a mystery why Lurpak has to be nearly £10 ($AU17.58) a kilo, when its own brands are often about half of that amount."

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