$35K in Food Destroyed After Woman Deliberately Coughs on Grocery Store Products
Police hunt woman after cruel prank amid coronavirus pandemic
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A supermarket in Pennsylvania wad forced to throw away thousands of dollars in food after a woman intentionally coughed on products as part of a cruel prank amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The co-owner of Gerrity's Supermarkets, Joe Fasula, relased a statement on Facebook describing how a woman entered one of the grocery stores before coughing on produce such as meats and baked goods.
As a result of the woman's cruel prank, the supermarket was forced to throw away $35,000 worth of food.
The owner wrote:
"While there is little doubt this woman was doing it as a very twisted prank, we will not take any chances with the health and well-being of our customers."
"We had no choice but to throw out all product she came in contact with."
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"Working closely with the Hanover Township health inspector, we identified every area that she was in, we disposed of the product and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected everything," the owner continued.
"We are checking to see if our insurance company will cover it, but even if they do, our rates will surely go up next year," he added.
"I am also absolutely sick to my stomach about the loss of food," he said.
"While it is always a shame when food is wasted, in these times when so many people are worried about the security of our food supply, it is even more disturbing," he continued.
Although police do not believe the woman has COVID-19, they said she would face criminal charges for what Fasula called a "travesty."
Defiant Iranian Muslims are demonstrating their faith by kissing and licking public shrines while boasting they are "not afraid of #coronavirus," despite the escalating outbreak of the deadly #COVID19 across #Iran.
— Neon Nettle (@NeonNettle) March 2, 2020
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The Hanover Township Police Department wrote:
"The suspect has been identified and is being evaluated at a local hospital for a mental health evaluation."
"Criminal charges will be filed," they added.
The news comes days after British police arrested teenagers for "coughing" in the faces of elderly people in a twisted prank to spread coronavirus.
A passerby attempted to intervene after witnessing the teens' actions, and the ensuing "altercation" left a woman in her 70s with a black eye, police said.
Officers say the three young men, aged 19, 18, and 16, approached a couple in the street in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, on Friday afternoon, and allegedly "coughed at them."
