Reply To: Eating in the store before checking out

It’s in the owner’s best interest to let people snack on their purchases while they shop. After all, a snacking kid is a happy kid and so Mommy can continue with her shopping and load up her cart, including the snack item she may otherwise not have bought, A kvetchy hungry kid means Mommy rushes through shopping, does not buy as much, a loss for the store. And coming back without the kvetchy kid is also not as good for the owner, since shopping with kids promotes impulse buying.
Also, many stores sell snack items like cold drinks and ice cream, ices that are meant to be eaten right away.
Although I understand why the cashier finds it unpleasant.