Crimes against humanity are being carried out in grocery stores across the US.
Following the sadistic lead of one woman in Texas, morons are filming themselves skipping through freezer aisles, licking open tubs of ice cream, and putting them back on the shelf.
The disgusting prank, however, has inspired more than copycat slurpers: Police reportedly arrested at least two people (including the unnamed mastermind) for fondling food without buying it.
Cops in Lufkin, Texas, allegedly identified the teenage girl seen licking a tub of Blue Bell ice cream in the now-viral video; her case was turned over to the Texas Juvenile Department.
In a statement to CBS News, Blue Bell said the contaminated ice cream was not sold.
“Based on security footage, the location, and the inspection of the carton, we believe we may have recovered the half gallon that was tampered with,” the company said.
Employees removed all Tin Roof half gallons from the Walmart location—just in case.
“Food tampering is not a joke, and we will not tolerate tampering with our products,” Blue Bell added.
Louisiana police, meanwhile, arrested Lenise Martin III on Saturday after the 36-year-old posted a video of himself licking and prodding a carton of Blue Bell ice cream before returning it to the freezer.
He did produce a receipt suggesting he bought the defiled container. But the purchase, as CNN pointed out, doesn’t absolve Martin of wrongdoing.
“Taking into consideration that he eventually purchased the same container is one thing,” local police Commander Lonny Cavalier said. “However, he puts it on Facebook to gain this notoriety and at the end of the day, it gives other people ideas that are not [in] the best interest of public health.”
Martin is being held on charges of unlawful posting of criminal activity for notoriety and publicity, as well as criminal mischief for tampering with property.
In an attempt to curb imitators, several stores have implemented additional security measures—like displaying warning signs or locking freezer doors. Others are taking a more humorous approach.
Two public safety officers stood guard over their local ice cream aisle during the Fourth of July weekend, while a Walmart worker was photographed guarding the Blue Bell freezer with a toy gun. (Only in Texas…)
Not every human is a trash bag, though.
A spoof #IceCreamChallenge has seen countless people perform fake-out licks, reorganizing freezers, and, wildly enough, actually purchasing ice cream before eating it.
When in doubt, look for a safety seal.
Or rummage through the shelves for a hidden carton. No one is going to go through the effort of reshuffling their tainted treat into the back of the freezer. Right?
Be safe this summer, ice cream lovers.
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