Marks and Spencer is limiting the number of steaks it displays to prevent shoplifters from stealing.
The measure by the supermarket was highlighted by a Twitter user over the weekend who popped into the M&S store in Harrow to buy some steaks.
In her tweet, the shopper shared how there were only three different cut steaks on the shelf.
She then asked an M&S store employee whether they had been busy - however she was then informed that this was to stop thieves.
Shoppers who wanted more needed to ask a member of staff.
Has your local supermarket implemented more security measures? Email us: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk
The customer told The Mirror the sales assistant said thieves "were coming in with a backpack and emptying shelves before running out of the store".
She said she was aware steaks were tagged at supermarkets but had "never seen this sort of extreme security measures".
She added: "When I buy steak I like to have a look at what's on offer so this option has now been taken away.!
In her tweet, the shopper said she was "shocked" and others revealed their local supermarket had introduced similar measures.
One Twitter user said: "Lady said the same in our local M&S Food."
Another tweeted: "I noticed this myself. At first I thought they were out of stock but then the staff member said I can get more from the back if you need them. I gasped."
M&S has confirmed to The Mirror that the measure is not a widespread policy and said it would be looking into the store in question.
The spokesperson said customers can should always be able to buy the products they want in M&S stores.
Other social media users said they had experienced different security measures in stores.
One person said: "Damn. The Co-Op near me has the steaks in security boxes."
Another tweeted: "My local Aldi has security tags on its meat. These are the times we live in when people are stealing food to survive."
A third added: "My Lidl started locking the fridge for steaks. They’ve stopped now."
This is not the first example of this type of security protections from supermarkets.
Over the weekend, Twitter user @laura_estah claimed their local Co-Op was now a "grocery show room" as it displayed product packaging rather than the actual product.
She shared an image of a shelf with three empty jars of Kenco and Nescafe gold coffee which had a label on it which said: "This product is a dummy and not for sale.
"Please ask a member of staff for help."
The Kenco smooth 200g jar of coffee featured in the picture was priced at £10.50 whilst the Nescafe Gold 200g jar was £9.35.
@Laura_estah shared that her local Co-Op also had "periodic tannoy announcements" which told customers that security cameras were watching them in store.
Another user said they had seen Co-Op display empty shower gel bottles.
Many believe the rise in security measures such as this must be down to the cost of living crisis as people are turning to desperate measures to keep going.
Food inflation in the year to March 2023 reached a record high this year at 17.2% - this slightly eased in the year to April however only to 17.1%.
The Co-Op has also confirmed that the police is not a nationwide measure at its stores.
A Co-op spokesperson said: "Protecting the safety of our colleagues is a priority and we know shoplifting can be a flashpoint for violence against shopworkers so whilst this is not a nationwide policy, a decision to implement product security measures at a local level can be made, if a store is experiencing a particular issue".
