When you are shopping at the supermarket, you probably don’t think twice about how you place the food in your trolley – but maybe you should.
Married people seeking affairs are secretly using bell peppers to signal they are open to meeting lovers behind their partner’s back – all while grocery shopping.
The bizarre ‘bell pepper code’ was suggested by one sneaky user on the flirt forum of extramarital dating site Illicit Encounters.
‘What if we start a secret code in the most mundane place of all – THE SUPERMARKET,’ the poster suggested.
‘It’s perfect! No one would ever suspect that your weekly food shop could lead to something a lot more… sizzling.’
The ‘bell pepper code’ was suggested by a user on the flirt forum of IllicitEncounters.com (Stock Image)
The user suggests that you place two bell peppers in your basket or trolley – but with the stems facing down.
‘It’s like a secret handshake, but with veg,’ the enthusiastic poster wrote.
‘Think about it. You’re casually browsing the aisles, and suddenly you spot someone with the telltale peppers in their basket.
‘Your eyes meet. There’s a knowing glance.
‘An instant connection, all thanks to a couple of peppers.’
The idea quickly caught the attention of other users in the flirt forum – with one person declaring they had ‘never seen so much traffic on a topic’.
One more practical member of the forum was concerned that someone could be identified as a cheater by mistake if they happened to place their bell peppers upside down and suggested that an additional step was needed.
They said: ‘Maybe we need to choose a specific part in the supermarket to wander off to when you’ve picked up your two peppers because otherwise it’d be too hard. Frozen aisles?’
The ‘bell pepper code’ gained a shockingly positive response from a flurry of members, with some declaring they will ‘definitely’ be testing the method.
One said: ‘This could make my food shop WAY more interesting. Upside down peppers it is! Definitely going to try this out.’
If you’re ‘not quite satisfied at home’ and looking for a little more excitement than what is on your shopping list, the user suggested that you place two bell peppers in your basket or trolley – but with the stems facing down
Users expressed interest in the ‘bell pepper code’, with some saying that they would definitely be testing it out, while others said they had already tried it out in their local supermarket
Another agreed and said: ‘I’d 100 per cent do this!
‘Would be so funny to see people eyeing up what everyone’s got in their trollies to check if they’re looking for an affair’.
A UK-based user said: ‘If I went into my local Norwich Sainsbury’s and arranged peppers in my basket whilst looking around at everyone else’s baskets, I think I’d look a bit strange and odd and would therefore probably fit right in!
‘But seriously I will try this this afternoon. Wish me luck.
‘Hope I don’t get taken away in a police van.’
An anonymous poster who goes by the name MoonMoon said they had already tried the ‘bell pepper code’ for themselves.
They reported back to the flirt forum and said: ‘Worked for me, kind of!
‘Tesco in Beckton is the place to be… I went there on Friday night, picked up my couple of peppers and headed for the frozen aisle.
‘Next to the yorkshire puds I noticed someone else with peppers in their trolley, there was a bit of an awkward smile and we spoke for a bit.
‘I don’t think we we were quite right for each other but it was nice to have a chat with someone else who clearly isn’t happen in their relationship.
‘I’ll keep this up! If enough people do it, we could actually be on to something here – and even if I don’t find a lover, it’s comforting to see I’m not the only one having issue at home!’
The ‘bell pepper code’ gained a shockingly positive response from a flurry of members, with some declaring they will ‘definitely’ be testing the method the next time they go shopping (Stock Image)
Others even posted their own suggestions on which vegetables to use.
One user teased: ‘Surely you just need to seductively walk around with an aubergine?’
Another wrote: ‘Surely a big cucumber standing upright would be more appropriate?’
Commenting on the discussion, spokesperson for Illicit Encounters Jessica Leoni, said: ‘While we normally encourage discretion in these matters, we never thought we’d see the day where people would be checking out each other’s vegetables in the supermarket – and not in the way you’d expect!
‘If this catches on, I suppose we can only hope everyone’s keeping their cool in the frozen food aisle.’