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Supermarket chain Tesco has issued an apology after telling one consumer feminine hygiene products are a “nonessential” product.
During the Wales circuit breaker lockdown, which began Friday, consumers are banned from buying nonessential goods.
But a Wales customer reached out to Tesco on Twitter after she was unable to purchase feminine hygiene products, according to the Mirror.
The details of the consumer complaint were seen on the social media platform, where a user named Katie furiously asked Tesco why she was unable to purchase feminine hygiene products at a Cardiff store, the Daily Mail reported.
“Can you explain why I was told today that I can’t buy period pads as I’m sure they are essential to women?!!! But I can buy alcohol it doesn’t make sense,” Katie tweeted.
“We understand how frustrating these changes will be for our Welsh customers,” Tesco allegedly responded, according to the Daily Mail. “However, we have been told by the Welsh Government not to sell these items for the duration of the firebreak lockdown.” Tesco’s tweeted response has since been deleted.
Tesco and the Welsh government had a small and fleeting disagreement when the supermarket blamed the government for banning Tesco tampons, which had no validity.
The Welsh Government responded to the controversial Tesco misstep, tweeting: “This is wrong – period products are essential. Supermarkets can still sell items that can be sold in pharmacies. Only selling essential items during firebreak is to discourage spending more time than necessary in shops.”
“Sanitary products are essential items and are available to customers in all of our stores in Wales,” a spokesperson told the Daily Mail.
According to the Mirror, Tesco agreed and quickly apologised, saying that feminine hygiene products are absolutely for sale.
Tesco did confirm the feminine hygiene product aisle was cordoned off in one of its Cardiff stores, which started the confusion. But Tesco maintains the aisle was blocked as a result of a police investigation, and the store’s blockade to feminine hygiene products was just an “isolated incident,” the Mirror reported.
What is Considered ‘Essential’ During the Wales Lockdown?
While Tesco’s tampons are indeed essential, there is a ban on nonessential goods in Wales during a 17-day lockdown, according to the BBC.
Shops have been mandated to shut down aisles that sell nonessentials such as bedding, clothes, gardening items, homewares, electronics, telephones or toys.
First Minister Mark Drakeford ordered supermarkets to sell only essential goods during the Wales lockdown, The Guardian reported.
The orders were meant to create a “level playing field” as more shops were forced to close to alleviate soaring COVID-19 cases in the U.K.
The “essentials only” rule will end at midnight on 9 November 2020. Supermarkets and pharmacies will be open, selling only essentials. Meanwhile, almost all other shops will close, The Guardian reported.
Any leisure retailers, such as car dealerships, clothing shops and furniture shops, will not be open.
Supermarkets, building suppliers, pharmacies, chemists, banks, post offices and newsagents are classified as essential retailers, according to the BBC. Everything else is considered nonessential.
Although supermarkets are open because they sell essential goods, certain aisles are off-limits; however, this does not include toiletries or feminine hygiene products.
The BBC reported over 64,000 people have signed a petition to allow supermarkets to be able to sell all items, including clothing and hardware.
Drakeford says most people were understanding of the restraints of the first COVID-19 lockdown.
But now, “I don’t think that people will be as understanding this time, and we will be making it clear to supermarkets that they are only able to open those parts of their business that provide essential goods to people and that will not include some of the things that Russell George mentioned, which other people are prevented from selling,” he said, according to The Guardian. “So we will make sure there is a more level playing field in those next two weeks.”
Do you agree with the government categorising essential and nonessential goods during the Wales lockdown? Tell us what you think in the comments section.
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