Peeled oranges sold in plastic boxes cause outrage

Updated
Peeled oranges for sale
Peeled oranges for sale



Natalie Gordon took a photo in her local brand of Wholefoods, and put it on Twitter. She wrote: "If only nature would find a way to cover these oranges so we didn't need to waste so much plastic on them." Her photo has now been retweeted more than 500,000 times, and attracted hundreds of comments.

An overwhelming majority were shocked at yet another example of over-packaging of convenience foods. One tweeted: "They're selling oranges already peeled in a plastic container. I'm done with the world. DONE." Another commented: "Seriously?? Pre-peeled oranges.... Anyone who doesn't know how to peel an orange deserves to starve." And another added: "Pre-peeled oranges are actually a thing?! Wow. Just. Wow..."

Wholefoods, the company that was selling the oranges, responded to the tweet saying the product had been withdrawn. It Tweeted: "Definitely our mistake. These have been pulled. We hear you, and we will leave them in their natural packaging: the peel."

Is it fair?

However, there are those who argue that the outrage is misguided, and that pre-prepared food can be the only way that disabled people and the elderly can get access to fresh food like this. One wrote: "If only Nature cld cure the arthritis in my swollen painful fingers so I could peel a damn orange when I want one".

One said: "Dear able people of the world: Something that is easy for you might not be easy for someone else." And one commented: "Does taking away packaged oranges from disabled people do anything but increase our smug net virtue? No, pass the peeled pineapple."

It's not the first time this kind of image has gone viral. An image of bananas wrapped in plastic from Morrisons has been doing the rounds for a few months on social media.

Yesterday, another user posted pictures of pre-peeled bananas and oranges wrapped in plastic, commenting: "Humans just lazy now", which has been retweeted 1,800 times.

But what do you think? Does this sort of over-packaging bother you? Or have you seen enough tins of peeled and sliced fruit, and boxes of prepared pineapple, not to worry too much about a bit of pre-preparation? Let us know in the comments.

How to Peel an Orange
How to Peel an Orange

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