Last week, Vancouver resident Christine Kizik posted a photo of a $3.99 pre-cut avocado on the Facebook page of Canadian grocer Sobeys Inc., saying she was “surprised and disappointed.”

“Avocado’s (sic) have their own perfect, compostable, wrapping. Adding packaging to an avocado is strange to say the least,” she wrote. She said the photo was taken at a Sobeys in Thornhill, Ont., by a friend, but it was her comment that prompted so much attention. The post has been shared hundreds of times and received more than 100 comments.

Sobeys responded, posting on Facebook: “Thanks for sharing this with us Christine. This product was developed for people who might be new to using avocados and for a little more convenience. It eliminates the guess work when it comes to ripeness and any challenges if you are not familiar with peeling and seeding a fresh avocado. The packaging is there to keep the fresh wholesome appearance and quality of the avocado without it browning prior to consumption.”...

A handful of users have pointed out that foods such as the pre-cut avocado and pre-peeled orange make preparing food easier for people who may have limited mobility.