A shopper at a Tesco store in south Wales who was unable to buy period pads was told by the supermarket on social media that they were not classed as an ‘essential item’ under news rules during the Welsh ‘firebreak’ lockdown.
When Katie Smith, from Cardiff, found that period products were in a cordoned-off area in her local store on Monday morning, she tweeted: ”@Tesco 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.”
In a now-deleted tweet, a representative for Tesco responded: “Hi Katie. 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.”
However, a spokesperson from the Welsh government was quick to clarify that period products were not on the banned list, explaining in a tweet: “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 from accessing items that you need.”
Wales has been following the latest lockdown rules since Friday evening, with the government enforcing a ban on supermarkets selling non-essential goods such as electrical goods, phones, clothes, toys and games, homewares, and garden products. This has sparked confusion over what can and can’t be sold.
A spokesperson from the Welsh Government confirmed to HuffPost UK that period products qualify as essential items.
“Of course, we haven’t banned any essential sanitary products and this is a complete mistake on Tesco’s behalf. They’ve deleted their tweet and apologised to the person they’ve responded to,” said the spokesperson. “I cannot say how strongly that no supermarket has been told that sanitary products cannot be sold and there is absolutely no foundation for this happening whatsoever.”
In a coronavirus briefing on Monday , Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething said he was “very saddened” to see the exchange on Twitter and that the suggestion a woman could not buy period products was “simply wrong”.
“It’s an incorrect reading of the regulations and the guidance. I am very sorry that this woman was given this information,” Mr Gething said.
Tesco issued a statement clearing up the Welsh branch’s decision to barricade the aisle of period products. A spokesperson said it was an isolated incident in one store, where an area had been cordoned off after a break-in.
“Of course sanitary products are essential items and are available to customers in all of our stores, including those in Wales,” the statement said. “Due to a break-in, this area was closed temporarily in one store for a police investigation, but is now open again.”
A Tesco spokesperson confirmed to HuffPost UK. “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.”