Turnips, a popular greengrocer stall at Borough Market, is facing backlash after claiming they were banned from selling their renowned chocolate-covered strawberries
Priced at £7.50, the delectable treat has drawn visitors from around the world, but the market reportedly deemed it outside the scope of “fruit, veg, or related produce,” prompting Turnips to cease sales.
Outrage on Social Media
The news ignited a social media storm, with disappointed fans expressing their dismay, some even altering travel plans to London in hopes of trying the famed strawberries. A TikTok video, gaining over a million views, captured a staff member explaining the situation to customers, revealing that the mushroom risotto was also banned due to preparation outside an approved hot food area.
Market’s Rationale Challenged
Turnips contested the market’s decision, emphasizing that they are permitted to trade fruit, vegetables, and related produce from any part of their shop. The stall accused Borough Market of shutting down their front operation, preventing them from trading that day, solely based on the argument that chocolate-covered strawberries don’t fall under the approved categories.
Call for Action and Customer Complaints
In the TikTok video, the staff member urged outraged customers to make complaints to the Borough Market administration if they disagreed with the decision. The controversy led to calls for action on social media, with one person traveling from Australia specifically to taste the chocolate-covered strawberries expressing their disappointment.
Global Reach of Outrage
With fans from across the globe expressing their frustration, the stall uploaded another video on TikTok, garnering hundreds of thousands of views and likes. The video encouraged viewers to imagine traveling from Australia after seeing the TikTok about the strawberries, highlighting the global impact of the controversy.