Tesco apologises for confusion over sale of tampons in Wales

Welsh government has since confirmed that sanitary products are essential items

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A  short-lived Tesco tweet deeming sanitary products “non-essential” has sparked outrage and highlighted confusion over Wales’ new firebreak lockdown rules.

On Monday, a Welsh customer named Katie contacted the supermarket chain on Twitter asking why she was told that she couldn't buy sanitary towels from her local branch.

"Can you explain why I was told today that I can't buy PERIOD PADS as I'm sure they are essential to women?!!!" she tweeted. "But I can buy alcohol, it doesn't make sense."

A spokesperson for Tesco named Raza replied from the company's main account in a now-deleted tweet that reads: "We understand how frustrating these changes will be for our Welsh customers. 

"However, we have been told by the Welsh government not to sell these items for the duration of the firebreak lockdown. Regards, Raza."

The Welsh government has since confirmed this is not correct.

In response to Tesco’s tweet, which was shared by broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire, they wrote: "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. It should not stop you accessing items that you need.”

Now, Tesco has confirmed that its tweet stating that sanitary products were not essential items was sent in error and that the area selling sanitary items in this particular branch of Tesco was cornered off due to a break-in.

A Tesco spokesperson said: “Sanitary products are essential items and are available to customers in all of our stores in Wales. 

"Due to a break-in, this area was closed temporarily in one store for a police investigation, but is now open again. The reply to this customer, which implied these products were non-essential, was sent by mistake and we’re very sorry for any confusion caused.”

Health minister Vaughan Gething said he was “very saddened” to see a supermarket telling a woman she could not buy period products.

“This is simply wrong, it’s an incorrect reading of both the regulations and the guidance. I am very sorry this woman was given this information," he added.

“Supermarkets are open and trading as are many other shops, and are able to sell a wide range of everyday items that we all need. 

“But there are some other items that won’t be on sale for the next two weeks. These are items that other high street shops that are currently closed can’t sell at the moment.”

Katie has received a series of outraged replies to her original tweet from women who described her inability to purchase sanitary products as “truly shocking".

“That’s insanity,” another added. “They are essential items to those who need them and that’s hardly a voluntary choice! Certainly more essential than booze.”

Last week, the Welsh government announced it would be implementing a 17-day firebreak lockdown for Wales to combat the rising number of coronavirus infections in the country.

The short-term lockdown began at 6pm on Friday 23 October and will end on Monday 9 November,  confirmed Mark Drakeford, first minister of Wales. 

Mr Drakeford explained that the short-term lockdown is a “short, sharp shock to turn back the clock, slow down the virus and give us more time”.

"The aim of the firebreak period is to get us through to Christmas," he added. "Beyond that, it simply wouldn't be sensible, given the speed at which things change... to be offering people guarantees of how the future may unfold."

The lockdown means that there is a temporary ban on selling non-essential items in Wales. However, Mr Drakeford has since said that supermarkets will have discretion over what is and is not an essential item.

Mr Drakeford told ITV Wales News: “I won’t need, I don’t think, to buy clothing over this two weeks and I think many, many people in Wales will be in that position too.

“For me it won’t be essential, but I recognise that there will be some people who for entirely unexpected reasons which they couldn’t have foreseen will need to buy items.

“In those circumstances where those welfare reasons are at stake, we will make sure that our supermarkets understand they have the discretion to apply the rules differently.”

His statement comes after 30,000 people signed a petition against the policy.

The petition described the restriction on non-essential items as irrational and says it "will create more harm than good".