Fresh summer corn has revived a debate over whether shoppers should remove husks in shops before buying it. The article reports that, although people may do so to check kernels and look for insects, etiquette guidance is blunt: anyone who shucks an ear should buy it, as leaving it behind can create waste and affect its condition for other customers.

Some supermarkets actively accommodate in-store shucking by placing bins near their corn displays, while others may prefer customers to leave the husks intact. Shucking removes the green outer leaves and silk surrounding the kernels; the advice is therefore to follow each shop’s practice and only peel back corn that you intend to take home.