An American expat living in Yorkshire has left social media users amused after expressing confusion over the open refrigerated shelves commonly found in UK supermarkets. The woman, who goes by 'Yorkshire Yank' on TikTok, shared a video highlighting what she described as a 'weird' and 'wasteful' feature.
In the clip, she films the dairy aisle, showing milk displayed on open shelves without doors. 'The milk is right out in the open, there's no doors,' she says. 'You basically just walk into a refrigerator.' She argued that the arrangement makes the entire shop colder and less energy-efficient than the closed fridges she was used to in the US.
However, viewers were quick to explain that the shelves are kept cold by air curtains—high-velocity air streams installed above the units that maintain a consistent temperature while reducing energy loss. One commenter noted that open shelves are actually preferable for milk, as frequent door opening can cause temperature swings that accelerate bacterial growth and spoilage.
Another viewer pointed out that milk is often a 'loss leader' in supermarkets, meaning it sells quickly and has a high turnover, reducing the need for doors. Some Brits were also surprised, with one admitting they had 'never considered' that the milk baskets weren't inside a fridge.
The expat, who works for the NHS, later acknowledged that some stores have started adding doors to refrigerated sections, but remained puzzled by the open milk shelves. Her video has since garnered thousands of views and sparked a lively discussion about supermarket design.
