Overview
- Reporters in Berlin found yellow tags on chilled foods such as goulash and fish, expanding beyond the usual coffee and cosmetics.
- The stickers read “Secured item – remove label before heating” and display a padlock symbol.
- Lidl says item-level security is a common, nationwide practice for high-value or theft-prone goods and declined to share further details.
- Examples in a Neukölln store included trout fillet at €3.99, prawns at €4.29, and beef steak at €5.25, indicating the approach now covers lower-priced groceries.
- Industry data cite more than 400,000 recorded shoplifting cases last year and nearly €3 billion in 2024 retail losses, with experts tying rising food theft to inflation, more seniors and families stealing, and staff shortages; recent cases include large coffee thefts at Netto.