Largest UK Supermarket Bans Candy From Checkout

There's almost nothing more tempting when you're on a diet or watching what you eat than the checkout aisle of a grocery store.  British supermarket chain Tesco, the largest in the UK, decided to do something about helping their customers eat healthy by banning candy and sweets from the checkout areas of all Tesco stores, eliminating last-minute sugary temptation. Large Tesco stores haven't carried chocolates in the aisles for 20 years, but now the rule applies to their metro and express outlets as well.

"We're doing this now because our customers have told us that removing sweets and chocolates from checkouts will help them make healthier choices," Phillip Clarke, chief executive at Tesco, said in a statement."We've already removed billions of calories from our soft drinks, sandwiches, and ready meal ranges by changing the recipes to reduce their sugar, salt, and fat content. And we will continue to look for opportunities to take out more."

The move comes after two-thirds of Tesco customers surveyed said that removing the sweets from the checkout lanes would help them eat healthier and make healthier choices for their children. No word yet on whether American grocery stores will follow suit. 

Joanna Fantozzi is an Associate Editor with The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @JoannaFantozzi