The pace of life and the competitive nature of modern society brings its pressures. People find different ways to release the strain. Some have developed a strange and perhaps annoying habit.

Supermarkets are supposed to be a place for shopping but some are here for a different reason.

A supermarket salesperson said, "Some people crumble the food, such as biscuits, into pieces. We find so much crumbled food that we can fill a big case everyday."

Some people enjoy crumbling food in the supermarket, and use it as an effective way of unloading the pressure of work and life. It's a common phenomenon across China.

In major cities like Beijing and Chengdu, almost every big supermarket suffers from crumblers.

Experts say most of these people are white collar workers in big and medium sized cities, a group that most frequently faces the competitive pressures of modern times.

But their method of relieving stress has triggered criticism from supermarkets and other customers.

A customer said, "One should adjust to relieve pressure, not to do things like this. This behavior harms themselves and others."

The concern about crumblers is justified. Psychologists say the behavior could develop into criminal activities that would hurt others. They suggest the crumblers make a change before it is too late.

Mr. Ma, director of Beijing Yanyuanbosi Psychology Center, said, "They can find some better ways to release pressure, such as jogging, music, or going to bars."

So crumblers be warned. It's time to find another way to relax and abandon the harmful behavior.