Tesco customers fury over ‘inexperienced’ transfer to swap plastic lids on hummus
British shoppers have weighed in on the great debate of our time as they vent their fury at Tesco‘s ‘green’ move to swap plastic lids on hummus tubs for flimsy covers.
The multinational retailer made the drastic call this month to ditch the plastic, getting rid of more than 31 million pieces from its stores.
Objectors say the move will not reduce plastic ‘if it still has a plastic cover and people end up using clingfilm’ while others have praised the supermarket for its apparent concern over the ‘environmental issue’.
We went out onto the streets of London to speak to shoppers and hear their thoughts on the change.
Cameece Maddis, 32 and Adrian Holloway, 28 suggested they were not a fan of the move and questioned the logic behind the new packaging.
Cameece Maddis, 32 and Adrian Holloway, 28 suggested they were not a fan of the move and questioned the logic behind the new packaging
Mr Holloway said: ‘We’d have to hurry up and eat it before it goes off. You’d definitely have to rush instead of enjoying it as you’d like.’
Ms Maddis said: ‘I have to now wrap it with foil instead because it always goes off quicker.
‘It is a good reason (environmental) but I actually wouldn’t mind paying extra to have the lid.’
Mr Holloway added: ‘It definitely doesn’t last as long without a re-sealable lid where you can reseal it or keep it fresh longer.
‘It still works against making it fresh so it doesn’t really make sense in the long-run.
‘We’d have to hurry up and eat it before it goes off. You’d definitely have to rush instead of enjoying it as you’d like.’
Allaister, 28, a businessman who was out in London with his friend, aged 35, questioned the ‘scientific method’ Tesco had used to test out the hypothesis that hummus freshness was unaffected.
Allaister, 28, spoke out too despite Tesco insisting the change has no impact on product quality or shelf life and added the hummus should still be consumed within 2 days of opening
Allaister’s friend went so far as to say if they had changed the lid they may well have ‘changed the whole thing’ and ‘made it out of wood’.
This comes as a Tesco spokesman has insisted the change has no impact on product quality or shelf life and added the hummus should still be consumed within 2 days of opening (as before).
Allaister said: ‘Do you have the scientific method with which they tested out that hypothesis.
‘It is a pressing thing because unless you eat the whole hummus tub in one sitting then that packaging thing is a bit defective really isn’t it.’
His friend went so far as to say if they had changed the lid they may well have ‘changed the whole thing’ and ‘made it out of wood’.
Tony Spar, a 71-year-old retiree, was a rare person MailOnline spoke to who appeared to support the move.
Tony Spar, a 71-year-old retiree, was a rare person MailOnline spoke to who appeared to support the move.
Mr Spar said: ‘It’s better – the lid didn’t go on very easily. The lid was quite tight whereas with this the film it just flicks back.’
But he added he thought Tesco were ‘not going far enough.’
‘The other day when I did my shopping at Tescos I had this great pile of plastic.
‘I think they can do a lot more – I notice that tesco now do a cardboard base with a top like that on their meat. It’s a step in the right direction but it’s not far enough,’ he said.
A 32 year old barber from America who was also passing by, Jamie Landey, was another person to share their perspective.
Mr Landy said: ”You mentioned they stopped adding a lid just to save the planet – imma be honest, it sounds like they’re just tryna save money.’
Mr Landy said: ‘I’m going to be frank – I’ve never heard of this brand.
‘But you mentioned they stopped adding a lid just to save the planet – imma be honest, it sounds like they’re just tryna save money.’
When MailOnline approached Tesco previously the company suggested it was unable to disclose financial implications of the work but that it would be inaccurate to say cost saving was the motivation for the action.
A spokesman added: ”We have recently removed the lids on our hummus pots as part of our ongoing efforts to tackle plastic waste. This latest change will remove more than 31 million pieces of plastic – equivalent to 157 tonnes of plastic a year.’
We have approached the supermarket for further comment.
Tesco made the drastic call this month to ditch the plastic, getting rid of more than 31 million pieces from its stores.
Some people say there’s no point as people will use cling form if there is no lid but Tesco said the move will reduce plastic waste
