The smell of freshly baked bread wafting from the supermarket bakery aisle is enough to entice a crowd of customers to search a shelf in seconds for the perfect crusty loaf.

But the thought of multiple customers standing over unwrapped bread left out in the open is enough to put some people off buying the baked goods, as discussed in a heated Reddit debate on Sunday.

One suspicious shopper began sharing his concerns on the subreddit r/CasualUK, in a after which has since attracted over 700 votes and 330 comments from fellow foodies.

The troubled customer asked, “Does anyone agree that it is strange for bakery bread to be left uncovered and unwrapped for the masses to grab?”

The Reddit user went on to explain that they aren’t too concerned about root vegetables and other food items that typically appear without packaging because they can be peeled, washed, or cooked before eating.

They said, ‘I don’t care if they are root vegetables because I peel and cook them, whereas with bread I would eat the crust, biofilm and all.’

Many shoppers agreed with the individual and shared their own experiences of how customers spread germs by “coughing and sneezing” or by not washing their hands before touching items.

One wrote: ‘I went shopping with a friend the other day. They squeezed out all the bread with their dirty hands. When you see the state of the toilets in the supermarkets and how few people wash their hands (half of those who do, only opt for the quick wet thing, no soap).

‘It’s not so snobbish to be put off by uncovered food when the majority are sloppy. I would look for food covered in soil and natural dirt, but tiger bread with extra poop particles? No.’

Another pointed out that cross-contamination problems could arise for people with allergies if those who touch the bread have not washed their hands properly.

Others, however, couldn’t understand why people are so concerned about buying bread that might be contaminated with someone’s germs.

One person wrote: ‘You’re breathing all kinds of cr** compared to the odd person who touches your scab,’ while another joked: ‘You have an immune system, don’t you? Use it!’

Another added: It’s honestly crazy. This obsession with a sterile environment is both an illusion and only a recent invention.’

Someone living in Japan warned that things could go too far and we risk ending up with even more packaging waste.

“I currently live in Japan and they have taken this to new extremes,” they explained.

‘Everything is wrapped in plastic, even individually wrapped bananas. Anything that isn’t in plastic, like some bakery products and some fruits and veggies at the grocery store, when you pay for it at the checkout, they put it in 1 or 2 layers of plastic whether you want them to or not.

“You buy an onigiri (already wrapped in plastic) at a convenience store and then they put it in another plastic bag for you before asking if you want a tote bag too.”

A neutral individual wrote, “Personally, it doesn’t bother me that much, but I can certainly understand the mentality.”

Meanwhile, skeptical shoppers revealed their reasons for avoiding unwrapped bread, with one person explaining: ‘If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that there are sections of the general public who lack basic personal hygiene.

“Just yesterday I was using a public restroom and noticed at least two people not washing their hands.”

Another wrote: ‘People are disgusting. Given unlimited access to food, people will viciously or idiotically sneeze into the food, lick and replace cutlery, cross-contaminate food, or use unwashed hands to handle the food.”

A final suspicious food service worker warned: ‘Having worked in food service, I will never eat food left out in the open.

“People are coughing and sputtering, rubbing their noses and running their fingers through their hair, wiping any rain or dust or dandruff off their clothes… that’s before they’ve even started sniffing through the food.”

THE PATRIARCHS of Britain’s largest family were stunned by the number of adoring fans who turned up at their book signing in Manchester.

Noel and Sue Radford’s very first book – The Radfords: Making Life Count – was published just over a week ago, and the pair were praised for telling it all in the page-turner.

4

4

4

The couple, who had their first child when Sue was just 13, have made a name for themselves as Britain’s largest family and have shared their lives on TV with the hit show 22 Kids and Counting.

They also have a thriving cake business, are on the fourth series of their hit TV show and post on various social media channels including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

In Sue’s new book she said: “We don’t claim any benefits, the cake business is very successful and so is our media business.

“We work hard, but we’re not millionaires!”

She also added: “The trouble, however, is disturbing. We just want to be able to give our children the best life possible.”

However, in a recent YouTube video, the pair insist that they are both “shy people” by nature and were nervous about meeting the fans who had been following their lives over the years.

It’s a little bit out of our comfort zone, but I’m really excited.

Sue Radford

The 48-year-old said she and Noel were both nervous before the meet and greet.

“From what we’ve heard, quite a few tickets have been sold, so I think there will be quite a few people there,” she explained.

“This is so new to us, we’ve never done anything like this before, it’s so weird because I guess I’d say we’re both quite shy people, aren’t we.

“So to do something like this is, um, it’s a little bit out of our comfort zone, but I’m really excited to meet everyone.”

In the video, Sue and Noel managed to get a few clips of them signing the book for fans and meeting them.

The pair traveled from their new £850,000 farm to Manchester before returning home in the evening to get their children ready for bed.

And the couple were blown away by the support from their fans.

Noel said: “What a day, it was a bit strange because when we got there we saw a big queue of people, we walked past everyone to get into the shop and we both said to them, ‘Oh my God, our legs feel like jelly. ”

Sue was pleased that some even bought presents for the children.

And that’s not all: people traveled from all over the country for the chance to meet the couple.

Sue added: “People come from Kent, Bristol, Newcastle and South Wales completely honestly.

“Seriously, such a surreal day, yes, when we saw the line outside, oh my god, my legs literally went to jelly, but it was so beautiful.”

The couple announced they would be heading to Birmingham on March 16 to meet fans during their book tour.

Sue and Noel married in 1992 and are now parents to Chris, 34, Sophie, 29, Chloe, 28, Jack, 26, Daniel, 24, Luke, 22, Millie, 22, Katie, 20, James, 19, Ellie, 18 , Aimee, 17, Josh, 16, Max, 14, Tillie, 13, Oscar, 11, Casper, 10, Hallie, eight, Phoebe, seven, Archie, six, Bonnie, four, and Heidie, three.

They also lost a son, Alfie, who was stillborn in 2014.

Fabulous pays for your exclusive stories. Just email fabulousdigital@the-sun.co.uk and put EXCLUSIVE in the subject line.

4

• There were 8% fewer pending home sales last month compared to last year
• Mortgage rates have fallen from record highs, but borrowing is still expensive
• Home touring activity is on the rise, up 16 percent since January 1

By Neirin Gray Desai Consumer reporter for Dailymail.Com

Updated: 1:33 PM EST, February 9, 2024

FIFA and UEFA have been urged to kick Israel out of football over the situation in Gaza.

Such a move would disrupt the 2024 European Championship play-offs with Israel, who face Iceland on March 21.

1

Neither is expected to give in to the demand, led by ex-Fifa presidential candidate Prince Ali of Jordan.

The head of the Jordan FA and chairman of the West Asian Football Federation said in an open letter: “We call on FIFA, the football confederations and their member associations to join us against the atrocities.

“That means we must condemn the murder of innocent civilians. . . and taking a united front that isolates the Israeli FA from all football-related activities until the aggression ceases.”

Israel finished third in Group I, two points behind Switzerland with 15.

Alon Hazan's team won the last match of the group stage 2-0 against Andorra thanks to an own goal by Joan Cervos and a goal by Gadi Kinda.

The Israelis face Iceland in a 'home' play-off match, having won their UEFA Nations League group two years ago.

However, due to the ongoing war with Hamas, the match will take place in Budapest.

The winner will then face Bosnia in Sarajevo or another tie on neutral ground against Ukraine, who are playing in Poland due to the Russian invasion of their country.

The Euro 2024 finals start on June 14 and the tournament runs until July 14 later this year.

Germany will play the opening match against Scotland in Munich, as the host country.

Italy will be hoping to retain the crown after winning the 2021 tournament by beating England in the final at Wembley Stadium.

Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate has previously described the scenes in Israel and Gaza as “disturbing”.

He said: 'In my lifetime it is one of the most complex situations in the world. And I think everyone is struggling with the best way to deal with that.

“I don't know what it's like to be in the shoes of people on both sides of that conflict.”

The Princess of Wales's “unwavering commitment” to the nation will see her continue her royal work from bed as she recovers from major surgery.

Kate, 42, is said to be 'doing well' after going under the knife for her abdominal surgery at the London Clinic near Regent's Park this week.

She is expected to spend another week in hospital before being transferred to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to regain her strength after the medical procedure.

Palace insiders say the recovering royal is keen to return to work “as soon as possible” but is now juggling caring for her three children with husband Prince William, 42.

A royal source said Kate and William are currently putting “family first, day job second” as they try to maintain a sense of “normality” for Princes George, 10, and Louis, five, and their eight year old. sister, Princess Charlotte.

'The children are always at the center of their universe. It will remain that way. They want to ensure that they can live as normally as possible in the future,” says a source The times.

The news comes as palace officials tonight sought to dismiss speculation that Prince William would become the first Briton monarch in five centuries to sever official ties with the Church of England.

There was plenty of speculation in royal circles this week about whether or not the heir apparent would take the title of 'Supreme Governor' of the Church of England if he became king.

It is said that William greatly admires and respects the Church and enjoys attending services at important times of the year such as Christmas and Easter.

But he feels he is no different to the average Brit because he is not a regular admirer.

And that has led to speculation about whether he might consider not taking on the formal role that British monarchs have held since the time of Henry VIII.

The reigning monarch also serves as supreme governor of the Church of England. Although now largely a symbolic and ceremonial role, this position means that the monarch formally appoints high-ranking clerics.

Sources claimed to The Times that “the conversation never came up” about William cutting ties and giving up the role.

Kate has cleared her diary for the coming months and is not expected to resume her official duties until after Easter.

Meanwhile, William has indicated that he will be 'by his wife and children's side all the way', postponing all his upcoming engagements until Kate is back on her feet.

Kate's recovery comes as King Charles faces his own health problems, and his Royal Highness is due to make a hospital visit next week receiving treatment for an 'enlarged prostate'. Aides say the king's condition is “benign” and he will undergo corrective procedures.

The Princess of Wales is likely to continue working in a manner consistent with her recovery following her discharge from the private London clinic.

She recently launched a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of the first five years of a child's life called Shaping Us.

Although she will not be taking on any official assignments and her schedule will be cleared, it is likely that she will continue to show interest in her campaigns.

“Her passion for the early years is clear, there will be a huge continuation of that campaign and she will be keen to continue that conversation with the nation as soon as possible,” an aide told The Times.

Appointments with the Princess of Wales's 30 charities and patronages are being cancelled, rescheduled or postponed while she recovers.

An official visit to Italy, planned for March, has also been postponed.

William has now started to focus on family while Catherine is in hospital, with Wales' approach described as '100 per cent family first, day job second'.

It is believed William now handles both the drop-off and collection of his three children from school.

The temporary loss of the King and Wales is likely to cause problems in the royal engagement calendar.

The Princess of Wales undertook 134 official engagements last year, while William took on 179. It is possible that the Duchess of Edinburgh and Princess Anne, who carried out 179 and 410 engagements, will have to go a step further.

Queen Camilla may also try to fill in any gaps. She saw a new 'Safe Space' open at the Aberdeen Art Gallery on Thursday, an initiative to provide support to people living with domestic abuse.

The Queen said the King was “looking forward to getting back to work.”

Across the Atlantic, reports suggested that Prince Harry may have heard about his father's condition through the news before being formally informed by the palace.

The suggestion came the day before it was announced that Harry and his uncle, Prince Andrew, were being further sidelined within the royal family.

King Charles has introduced a provision to prevent the couple from acting as surrogates for him.

The Counselors of State Act 2022 added Charles the Princess Royal and the Duke of Edinburgh to the list of State Counselors. In a statement, it was confirmed that only working members would be called upon to act on behalf of Charles, meaning neither Harry nor Prince Andrew would be able to do so.

Women debated online whether they would consider having a child at age 50.

On the British parenting platform Mumsnet, a woman asked whether others would consider becoming a parent at an older age.

Opinions on this controversial topic were divided; some said they would consider it, while others said it wasn't “fair to the child.”

The mail read: 'Would you have a baby at fifty? From the back of the “Do You Regret Having a Baby at 40?” thread, would you have a child at 50, assuming you could take care of it emotionally and financially? Obviously medical help is needed.'

Some people said they would consider having a baby in their 50s, but suggested having a teenager in their 60s would be terrible.

One person said: 'At 50, yes at 54-no. But I would like to have a grandchild.'

Another said: 'Yes, I would. I had fertility treatment in my 30s, but it was unsuccessful.

'I went through menopause in my late 30s and thought that eventually, as the hormones changed, I would lose the desire to be a mother, but that hasn't changed.

She continued, “I'm in my mid-40s now and I actually long for it more than ever. So yes, if it were possible, I would have a child at 50.

“Unless you have experienced the bitter, painful sadness of childlessness, I don't think you can empathize with those who continue to pursue motherhood late in life.”

Another said she had a child at 40 and would have another at 50 if she “really wanted one,” unless there was “a family history of ill health and early death.”

“I don't sit or lie in bed too late, I consider myself quite energetic, the majority of my friends are younger than me,” she explained. 'I need less sleep than before. I'm financially stable so I can afford to take time off/go part time.

'However, I would monitor the pregnancy closely and have all tests available.'

Other people, however, were shocked by the idea.

Someone else said: 'Baby at 50? Probably fine. Toddler in mid-fifties? No thanks. Raising a teenager in the late 1960s? Not really.'

Others said it is “selfish” to have a baby later in life and that it would be too tiring.

One person wrote: 'No. Personally, I wouldn't have had one over 35, let alone 50.

“I think at 50 it's selfish and not in the best interest of the child. I can imagine that it is difficult to raise a 50+ toddler and a teenager as you approach 70.'

Another said: 'I had babies at 37 and 41. I had fertility problems so I got them later. With both pregnancies I felt great and had no problems (I was high risk, but that was not age related and was managed).

'But there was no way I was going to have a baby at 50! The thought of going back to square one with a baby fills me with horror.

'I am so much more tired than I used to be and am undoubtedly heading towards perimenopause now that I am almost 44.

'My focus is on achieving a level of financial stability that means I can support the two DC I have through major milestones: university, house, wedding. Also about being as healthy as possible to minimize the risk of poor health later in life.'

Someone else wrote: 'Hell no! I had my second and last child when I was 26. If I'm lucky, I might have grandchildren in my 50s and I hope to be a loving, committed grandmother.

'I don't think it's fair to a child born to parents that age.

'An earlier poster said that a mother would get judged and a father would get a pat on the back, while I agree that this is not true, most fifty year old fathers are with much younger women. It is very unusual, even with medical intervention, for two parents to be anywhere in their 50s.”

A fourth wrote: 'Absolutely not. Exhausting nightmare at the age of 38. Fifty and menopause would be unbelievably bad, even with a fleet of servants!'

THE members of the Royal Family claim they don't watch The Crown – but their Commonwealth subjects certainly do.

Streaming service Netflix, which is notoriously secretive about its ratings, never published global ratings for the show, which ended last month.

But listening figures from the Mail's Crown-based podcast – which delved into every episode of the latest series – have provided an intriguing account of where the TV drama is likely to have proven to be the biggest hit.

While Britain came out on top in tuning into the Crown: Fact or Fiction with around 40 percent of the audience share, the Commonwealth countries put in an unexpectedly strong performance.

Australia, for example, accounted for almost 17 percent of listeners.

The king, who is head of state, will visit in October. Perhaps not coincidentally, the Australian government this month postponed controversial plans to hold a referendum on replacing King Charles as head of state.

Just over four percent of downloads took place in Canada and 3.6 percent in New Zealand, where Charles is also head of state.

The other two countries to make the top six in terms of downloads were the United States, with 20.37 percent, and Ireland, with 4.65 percent.

Courtiers have repeatedly said that members of the royal family don't watch The Crown — except for Prince Harry, who revealed in an interview last year that he does his own fact-checking while watching it.

The final series, released in the autumn, recreated the years between Diana's tragic death and William and Kate's university romance.

Separate chart figures show a similar picture, with the podcast being number one on the Apple Podcasts TV and Film charts in six Commonwealth countries: Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Malta and Mauritius.

Other Commonwealth countries tuning in include Tanzania and Singapore, where the podcast reached positions two and three respectively on the same chart.

These statistics do not reveal the ages of listeners, but the latest Ofcom report shows that podcasts are particularly preferred by younger people, with a growing audience among listeners aged 25 to 44 – a key audience for the monarchy.

Outside the Commonwealth, the podcast was popular in some unexpected places.

It tops the Apple Podcast TV and film charts in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the King visited Cop28 in Dubai in November, as well as in Estonia and Honduras.

It also reached number two on the Apple Podcast TV and Film chart in Iceland, Luxembourg, Nepal and Romania; number three in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Lithuania; number four in Greece, Slovakia and Norway and number five in Qatar and Indonesia.

Meanwhile, it also charted in the top ten of the same chart in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Austria, the Czech Republic and Switzerland.

By Lewis Browning for Mailonline

Published: 4:36 PM EST, January 13, 2024 | Updated: 4:36 PM EST, January 13, 2024

rich: Brand new lines, subtle updates and evolutions are where the film shines

Judgement:

'Sharp, funny and strongest when standing on its own two perfectly manicured feet, this spirited musical successfully updates the original Mean Girls template for a new audience.

“One of the great things about the move to a musical format is that the songs give us direct insight into the characters' feelings and motivations, breaking the fourth wall in a way that would feel downright clunky without a tune to go with it.” was involved. '

The cover: Renee Rapp can't save this muddled musical remake

'The script, which Fey started writing again, is so thin that there is no story at all. Despite being 15 minutes longer than the original, there is no fat in sight and no real meat.

'It's a cleaned up Cliff's Notes version of the original with a few songs thrown in. It will be great for audiences to see Renee Rapp, if they don't already know her, but she isn't doing enough to help save the world. rest of the movie.

“This may not be your mom's 'Mean Girls,' but it's doubtful it will be anyone else's.”

Entertainment weekly: A great musical update of the teen classic

“Thankfully, the new version – complete with a new screenplay by Tina Fey (based on her Broadway book… based on her 2004 film script) – manages to make life with the Plastics pretty fantastic.”

'The real star of the film is Rapp, who turns queen bee Regina into a monstrosity of epic proportions.

'She shows it, Rapp's voice is as captured as her character. But it is her decision to strike a light-hearted, hyper-sexualized tone that echoes Marilyn Monroe and showcases the brilliance of her tongue-in-cheek performance.”

The guard: A 112-minute TikTok on a smartphone-shaped screen

Judgement:

'There are plenty of laughs and fun along the way, but the business that spotlights Mrs. Norbury as a drug dealer always feels tense and unconvincing, with not enough laughs to make it worthwhile, while the ultimate resolution and Cady's require life lessons . still to arrive.

“Some sugar rush musical numbers though, and the classic jokes are delivered effectively.”

Telegraph: Sharp and fun remake for Gen Z

Judgement:

'The film is a complete scream for three main reasons. First, the generational rewrite is deftly done, with enough timeliness woven in to make it feel freshly relevant, but all the jokes fans want to hear again are left respectfully intact.

'Second, the new cast is uniformly excellent, from the three energetically hilarious new Plastics, Rapp, Vandanapu and Bebe Wood, to Moana's Auli'i Cravalho and Jacquel Spivey as the contented outcasts who initially take in Rice's Cady before coaching her to infiltrate. the school's ultimate in-group.

“And third, the series of songs by Jeff Richmond and Nell Benjamin, which amusingly draw on all kinds of '90s pop trends while also being delightful in their own right.”

Variety: 20 years later, a vibrant musical remake still has something to say

“Mean Girls has a kinetic aesthetic of an elevated Disney channel, made for streaming.”

'Ironically, if the film wanted to be a bit more stationary, it could have perhaps been more electric.

'The songs carry you away, with the transversal fireworks of 'Revenge Party' being a special highlight. And the story still crackles, especially when it culminates in the unveiling of the Burn Book.”

A Scottish woman who was criticized by clients for her accent has sought advice on how to deal with the disturbing comments.

The professional who works for ‘a large organisation’ and has ’99 per cent’ of her department based in London, took to the UK parenting platform Mothernet to vent her frustration and ask if it was reasonable to expect more support from her superiors, who told her to simply “ignore it.”

While some people on stage suggested she shrug off the negative comments and ‘get on with it’, others argued that ‘Scottish accents can be very difficult to understand’, with one person even asking if she might have some ‘speech training ‘ would consider.

Yet some Mumsnet users were angry about the feedback the woman had received – and argued she was the victim of racism.

The message read: ‘I’m Scottish, I work for a large organization where 99% of my department is based in London.

‘My job involves speaking to clients on a regular basis and many of these clients are also based in and around London. I work remotely.

‘The problem I’m running into is that since I started 2 years ago, there have been about 3 clients who have complained to my manager about not understanding my accent. The most recent complaint was just before that [Christmas].

‘They indicate that my accent is ‘too strong’, that I have an ‘aggressive nature’ and even that he should ‘tell him… to speak English’.

‘I’ve spoken to my manager and his manager about it and they both say I should just ignore it and that they are happy with my work, but that it is bothering me.

‘I worry about continuing to work with these customers and what other customers will say. I feel like my managers are more concerned about their income coming in than how they treat me.

“I’m not talking like I’ve dropped out of Rab C Nesbitt or anything. I may not have the Oxbridge education like some clients (yes, they brought that up), but I actually have several degrees and postgraduate qualifications.

‘I’ve had customers say things like, oh, you’re Scottish, I’ve been there once [very rough area of Glasgow that is nowhere near me] and it was soooo awful. What do I want to say to that? It makes me feel judged, as if being Scottish makes me poor.

‘I have had colleagues who assume that I vote for the SNP and hate the English. I hate the SNP and I don’t hate English (although I do hate some of the accented comments). AIBU wants more support?

Some sympathized with the complaints of the woman’s clients, while also suggesting that their difficulty understanding her was likely due to the fact that they were speaking on the phone and not face-to-face.

One person wrote: ‘I feel for you. That said, some Scottish accents can be very difficult to understand, and when you’re on the phone it becomes even more difficult for some reason.

‘I deal with one guy at work and I’d say I understand maybe 50 percent of what he says. I find phone calls with him so stressful.”

Another wrote: ‘To be honest, the Scottish accent can sometimes be difficult to understand and perhaps your accent is thicker than you think if several people have gone so far as to complain that they can’t understand you.’

A third person went further and asked the woman if she would consider working on her accent with a professional coach.

The person commented, “Can you do some speaking practice? Maybe your work can fund this? Not to lose your accent, but just to learn some techniques to speak clearly.”

Others, however, were dismissive of her clients’ criticisms and encouraged the woman to shrug off their comments.

A fourth Mumsnet user wrote: ‘I would listen to the manager OP’s advice. Keep it up. As long as you work hard and treat people with courtesy, whatever you do, you will be fine.”

Still, a number of people were apparently outraged by what the woman had had to endure, arguing it was “prejudice” and “racism.”

A fifth person stated: ‘It’s prejudice. If you replaced a Jamaican or Indian accent with a Scottish accent, people wouldn’t respond by turning it down or speaking more slowly.”

A sixth user wrote in a similar vein: ‘It’s racism. I work in London and get it occasionally. I have a standard ‘educated’ Edinburgh accent. When I worked in West Lothian my boss thought I was English…

‘There is a section of English society that thinks the whole of Scotland is a council plan and we all dress like Rab C and sit around drinking Tennents (or Buckfast).’

Meanwhile, someone else took the opportunity to simply compliment the Scottish accent: ‘My boyfriend is from Glasgow and I honestly can’t understand him half the time (so it could be real), but I’ve also no problem with that and I think it’s an incredibly sexy accent!’