We have all seen someone do it, and perhaps we are guilty of it ourselves. When grocery shopping, the number one rule is to not go when hungry. It heavily influences your wallet, because the sweets you often resist, snacks you typically don't buy, and everything you see end up in your cart because you are craving food. There are times when you are so hungry when shopping that not only do you pick things up that you normally don't buy, but you may find yourself opening an item to snack on it while you continue your shopping through the store. When you decide to snack on an unpaid item in the grocery store, are you breaking the law in Idaho?

Is It Illegal to Snack While Shopping in Idaho?

Credit: Ishaq Robin on Unsplash
Credit: Ishaq Robin on Unsplash
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When you get to that point of hunger that you can't wait to purchase an item and decide to eat it while you shop, have you broken the law? It is a blurry line because it depends on what happens next if what you are doing is illegal or not. According to Find Law, intent has a huge part to do with whether it is illegal or not to snack on an unpurchased item. If you intend to deprive the item's rightful owner, which would be the grocery store, of payment, then yes, this would be theft. If you intend to purchase the item, even if you have already eaten it all, you will not be found guilty of breaking any law in Idaho. Some rules can make this more complicated though. 

Foods You Cannot Eat in Idaho at Grocery Stores

Credit: BananaStock
Credit: BananaStock
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While eating a bag of chips, or opening a box of crackers or cookies is acceptable to eat while shopping in Idaho, there are other items that could get you in trouble. If you decide to eat a banana, an apple, or some sort of fruit, you could find yourself breaking the law. If you decide to eat a bag of candy that has been scooped into a bag, nuts scooped into a bag, or dried goods, the same rule applies. That is because these items are often priced by weight, and by eating them ahead of time, the proper weight will not be displayed and known, therefore you will not pay the true price for what you have consumed. You can find out more about the law by clicking the link in the paragraph above. 

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While it may not be against the law to snack while grocery shopping, is it morally right to do so? That answer will differ from person to person. Some believe you shouldn't open an item until after it has been purchased, while others view it as ok, as long as they pay for it. If you can't resist though while you shop, know that legally you are ok, so long as you choose to eat the right items when grocery shopping in Idaho.

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