Sainsbury's has left certain shoppers bamboozled, by changing its packaging of its popular packs of beef mince.
The leading supermarket has replaces plastic trays of the meat, opting instead to go with vacuum-packing - in a move which is predicted to save some 40 tonnes of plastic each year.
Explaining the move, Claire Hughes, Director of Product and Innovation at Sainsbury’s, said earlier this year: “We know our customers expect us to be reducing the use of plastic across our products are and we're constantly looking for new ways to innovate to meet our Plan for Better plastic reduction targets.
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"We strive to be bold in the changes we are making, which is why we’re pleased to be the first UK retailer to vacuum pack all our beef mince range without impacting the quantity or great quality of product that our customers expect. This is the latest in a long line of changes we have pioneered in the space working collaboratively with our suppliers, and customers can expect much more to come from Sainsbury’s.”
The Star reports it has also reduced the amount of plastic per product by 55%, but some shoppers aren't happy with the changes.
Numerous frustrated punters have picked up the problem with Sainsbury's on social media - going as far as comparing the new look of the product to dog food and human organs. Taking to Twitter, one wrote: "Sainsburys’ have changed the packaging for their beef mince.
"I’m meant to be cooking spaghetti bolognese tonight and the thought of touching the new packaging is making me… really uncomfortable and I don’t like it.”
Another, added: "Not a fan of the new Sainsbury’s beef mince packaging. Feels very medical – like I’ve just bought someone’s kidney to cook at home," while a third, penned: "Totally agree, looks like dog food. I have immediately stopped buying it.”
A fourth, went on: "It’s also all squished together and ends up more lumpy in the pan," while a fifth, said: "Anyone bought mince meat from @sainsburys recently? It’s actually like mush, it’s just a cube of mashed up meat what’s going on?"
Another, complained: "I’ve just used your mince in the new packaging for the first time and it was absolutely awful! The worst mince I have ever seen in my life. It was just one big mush - won’t be buying that again."
While a further punter added that they'll shop elsewhere in future, writing: "Please go back to your old packaging for beef mince. This vacuum-packed malarkey ruins the texture and taste. I’ll buy it elsewhere in future."
And while a number of people have grievances with the new look of the product, others embraced the environmentally-friendly move with open arms. One Twitter user applauded: “Good to see them trying to reduce plastic waste. Consumers need to get on board with it.”
A second, said: “I’ve bought it and I’ve used it. The packaging has made absolutely no difference to the product but the planet benefits greatly. Well done Sainsbury’s," while a third, added: “I like it! Cooked fine.”
A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “We are always looking for new ways to innovate packaging to meet our ambitious plastic reduction targets. Our new vacuum-packed beef mince packaging uses 55% less plastic and saves over 450 tonnes of plastic a year, without impacting taste or quality."
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