When did they remove the kiwi fruit spoons?
I recently found myself reminiscing about how, when I was younger, supermarkets used to stock those plastic half-spoon, half-knife utensils next to the kiwi fruits in the produce section. It was a given that if you were buying kiwis, you could grab one or two of those handy tools.
However, at some point, they vanished. I have a feeling this happened long before the “ban on single-use plastics” movement gained traction. It was certainly before we started seeing those uncomfortable wooden forks that don’t feel right against your lips and the paper straws that disintegrate in your drink.
Was it a public health issue? I can’t quite recall the reasoning behind their removal, but I remember them sitting in a little tray beside the kiwis, unwrapped and ready to use. It’s not too hard to imagine someone handling them after not washing their hands, which raises concerns about hygiene, I suppose.
So, why were they taken away, and when exactly did that happen? I can’t pinpoint the time in my life when they disappeared, but I’ve missed the joy of playing a good old-fashioned game of “knifey spoony” ever since.
Oh, and as a side note, what happened to the toffee apples on sticks that used to be in the fruit section? When did they disappear too?
It’s interesting to hear your memories about kiwi fruit spoons! The gradual phasing out of those plastic utensils likely stems from a combination of factors. You’re right that public health concerns played a role; shared utensils in a grocery store environment can introduce hygiene risks. Retailers became more aware of the need to ensure sanitary conditions, and items that could be touched frequently by multiple customers were scrutinized more closely.
The timing of their disappearance likely varied by region and store, but many supermarkets began shifting away from providing single-use plastics well before the widespread movement against them gained traction in the late 2010s. So, it could have been a gradual decision over the years, rather than a sudden ban.
As for the toffee apples, they too could have been affected by health regulations, safety standards, or the logistics of keeping them fresh. With changing consumer preferences and shifting regulations, many grocery stores are re-evaluating what products they carry.
Playing a game of knifey spoony might be a bit of a nostalgic challenge these days, but maybe you could always bring your own spoon along for a bit of fun!