Supermarket giant Aldi has made an important announcement to all of its customers. The retailer has followed in the footsteps of M&S and is making a crucial change that could potentially save hundreds, if not thousands of lives.
Aldi has announced that it is to add signs and symptoms of bowel cancer to all its packs of own brand toilet roll in response to Bowel Cancer UK’s #GetOnARoll campaign. Bowel cancer is the UK’s fourth most common cancer and the second biggest cancer killer.
Yet almost half of adults around the UK could not name a single symptom of bowel cancer in a recent survey. Red flag symptoms include changes in bowel habit and bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo, which can all be noticed while people are on the toilet. Knowing the symptoms to look out for, and acting on them, can lead to bowel cancer being diagnosed at an earlier stage when it is easier to treat and even cure.
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Now, Aldi has teamed up with Bowel Cancer UK to include the potentially life-saving information, together with a QR code for customers to find out more, on over 70m packs of toilet rolls every year. Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying, at Aldi, said: “It’s shocking to learn that almost half of all adults in the UK cannot name a single symptom of bowel cancer.
"When we heard how powerful it could be to simply print the signs and symptoms on loo roll packaging – so they are there when people most need to see them - we were really keen to get involved. Spotting signs early is so important, so anything we can do to raise awareness of what people should look out for, and signpost them to Bowel Cancer UK to find out more, is crucial.
“We’re delighted to be the first retailer to announce we’re getting on board since the launch of the #GetOnARoll campaign and we’re calling on all other retailers and loo roll brands to follow suit.”
Genevieve Edwards, CEO at Bowel Cancer UK, added: “We are delighted to partner with Aldi to raise vital awareness of bowel cancer symptoms with people all over the country. It’s the UK’s fourth most common cancer, with someone diagnosed with the disease every 15 minutes in the UK.
“Bowel cancer is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early, but 60% of people are diagnosed at later stages when it is much more difficult to treat. Part of the problem is low awareness of the red flag symptoms of bowel cancer that should prompt people to contact their GP. It’s such a simple idea to share this vital information on loo roll packaging. It could help us reach millions more people every year, and will undoubtedly help save lives. We want to thank Aldi for taking this step and encourage all other retailers to follow suit.”
M&S has already promised to make the change on its packs of toilet rolls. M&S is adding bowel cancer signs and symptoms onto its toilet roll packaging to raise awareness of the disease among its 30million customers.
The retailer’s partnership with Bowel Cancer UK will see the charity’s logo and symptoms infographic on-pack across its entire toilet roll range from September. Available across all M&S stores, customers will be able to scan a QR code redirecting them to Bowel Cancer UK’s website to find out more.
The move is designed to help save lives by aiding early detection. Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer. Nearly 43,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK however the disease is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early.1
M&S customers and colleagues will also spot new signage about bowel cancer symptoms in-store and across support centre toilets from next month. The idea originated from M&S Clothing and Home colleague Cara Hoofe, who submitted it to M&S’ newly launched Straight to Stuart colleague suggestion scheme.
Ms Hoofe was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer in 2016 at 32 years old and was inspired to put forward the idea by the amazing fundraising and campaigning efforts of BowelBabe Deborah James. Cara said: “Deborah is a huge inspiration to me and so many other young people diagnosed with bowel cancer. I feel fortunate my journey since diagnois has taken a different path but I want to give a voice to all those who can no longer use theirs to raise awareness.
"Early detection is so important and my main message to people is don’t feel embarrassed, get things checked out and speak to your doctor. I’ve worked at M&S for over ten years and am so happy they are putting my idea into action and so quickly – I’m hoping other companies will consider joining us.”
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