Mcb777 LiveFury as shopper told she can’t buy sanitary pads at Tesco in Wales because they are NOT ESSENTIAL | The Sun - Machibet777 Live

TESCO has been blasted after a shopper was told she can’t buy sanitary pads at a branch in Wales because they are NOT an essential item.

The supermarket giant has found itself embroiled in a furious row as female customers say they were left “raging and in tears” over the move at a branch in Cardiff.

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Women have hit out at Tesco after they were unable to buy sanitary products in a Welsh branchCredit: Jam Press

The Twitter user was told the items are banned by the Welsh government during the shutdown

Twitter user Nichola-Louise Smith said she was left in tears during her shopping experienceCredit: Triangle News

The furore left one Twitter user 'cringing'

Others spoke of their anger at the 'complete insanity'

It comes as major supermarkets - including this branch of Sainsbury's in Cardiff - use plastic sheeting to cover items like school uniformCredit: Wales News Service

Boris Johnson's book has been classed as a non-essential itemCredit: Wales News Service

Cutler and mugs have also been banned from saleCredit: Wales News Service

Tesco initially blamed the Welsh government for the row - claiming ministers said the period products can't be sold throughout the country’s 17-day Covid lockdown.

But were forced to issue a humiliating apology after ministers said they were an essential item.

Shoppers were left furious after cordon was errected around the period products this morning.

One shopper, who gave her name as Katie, tweeted the supermarket giant to ask: "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."

Bonkers - eight items that count as 'essentials' (and eight that don't)

The Welsh government's decision to ban the sale of 'non-essentials' during a 17-day firebreak has sparked fury

Essential:

Alcohol
Crisps
Magazines
Cigarettes
Dog treats
Bicycles
Rubber gloves
Bunches of flowers

Non-essential

Mops and buckets
Kettles
Toasters
Books
Baby grows
Warm winter jumpers
Duvets
Birthday cards

Single mum Nichola-Louise Smith said: "I’m literally raging and in tears.

"Tesco, how the hell is beer essential and PERIOD PRODUCTS non-essential."

A Tesco replied to Katie on Twitter: "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."

But the chain later apologised for getting it wrong after government officials clarified that the products can be sold.

In a tweet, a government spokesperson hit back: "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."

Tesco was then forced clarify: "Of course sanitary products are essential items and are available to customers in all of our stores, including those in Wales."

But later this afternoon the store bizarrely said the sanitary product area was cordoned off due to a burglary.

A Tesco spokeswoman said: “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.”

A South Wales Police spokesman said: “Police in Cardiff are investigating a burglary of the Tesco supermarket in St Mellons, which happened between 2.30am and 4.30am this morning (Mon), where an estimated £20,000 worth of beauty products was stolen.

“Stolen items predominantly include make up as well as electric toothbrushes and razors."

But shoppers have been less than impressed with the confusing row and slammed it as "stuipid" and "madness".

Marnie Tyler, 18, said: “It’s madness - there should be clear guidance on what is essential.

“I felt sorry for the woman who was refused in Cardiff, it’s unfair.

“My brother was stopped from buying baby milk and that’s pretty essential too.”

Factory worker Ellie Hodges, 19, said: “In some places you can get sanitary products for free but this woman was stopped from buying them altogether.

It’s madness - there should be clear guidance on what is essential.
Marnie Tyler

“There are some stupid things going on with the way the rules are being applied.

“You can’t buy a duvet or a duvet cover so what would happen if your child had an accident in the night.

“They would be left to freeze without a duvet.”

University student and netball coach Katie Mason, 18, said: “I think it is disgusting - sanitary products are absolutely essential items and supermarkets should know what.

“It’s completely out of order - the Welsh Government needs to have a good look at this.”

Mum-of-two Sarah Wathan, 56, said: “I think it is awful, what are women supposed to do.

“We didn’t get a lot of notice about the new lockdown so unless you had a stockpile at home you could be made to wait for 17 days to buy essential items. It’s just mad.”

Ellie Hodges, 19, said 'stupid' decisions were being made as a result of the new essential item rulesCredit: Athena Picture Agency

Sarah Wathan, 56, called the period pad row 'awful'Credit: Athena Picture Agency

Marnie Taylor, 18, called the row 'madness'Credit: Athena Picture Agency

Katie Mason, 18, said the row was 'disgusting'Credit: Athena Picture Agency

BACKLASH

It comes as officials in the country face a huge backlash over their definition over what counts as essential - and what doesn't.

During the new shutdown, which came into force at 6pm on Friday, stores are unable to sell clothes to customers and staff are being told to prioritise the sale of "important" essential goods.

Stunned shoppers shared images of aisles being cordoned off.

Stationary, books, warm winter duvets, children's clothes and even cleaning products like mops are banned from sale until November.

The terms of the new measures are far harsher than the original March lockdown - when supermarkets weren't banned from selling any items.

More than 50,000 people have now signed the largest-ever Senedd contesting the rules on 'non-essential goods'.

Rules descended further into confusion today as ministers said people can buy non-essential goods in supermarkets - in exceptional circumstances.

Labour leader Mr Drakeford and his team have risked compounding the chaos by saying that shops can now use their 'discretion'.

Health minister Vaughan Gething said customers should be allowed to buy "otherwise non-essential goods" if there were "exceptional circumstances" that meant they were essential.

So, what does count as essential in Wales?

Welsh people can buy products that would normally sold in:

Food and drink retailers (including off licences)
Newsagents
Building supplies and hardware stores
Pharmacies and chemists
Bicycle shops
Petrol stations
Garages and vehicle hire businesses
Post offices, banks, building societies and similar
Pet shops
Agricultural and aquacultural supplies shops
Livestock markets and auctions
Batteries, light bulbs and rubber gloves may continue to be sold.

The rules state: "Businesses which would normally sell a range of products in their stores may only sell those items which fall into the categories above.

"This is likely to mean some areas of stores should be closed to customer access. It will be important though for such stores to manage access to different categories of goods in a way that ensures customers and staff can circulate safely within the store.

"Some products may need to remain available to avoid creating unnecessary constraints on a mixed product aisle to the safe circulation of customers."

It comes as supermarkets were ordered to stop selling non-essential items during a 17-day firebreak lockdown

Warm winter coats, duvets and cleaning products like mops have been classed as non-essential under the order

Tens of thousands of people have signed a petition contesting the new policy

Now First Minister Mark Drakeford says there will be a review of the measureCredit: Matthew Horwood

One mum said it was 'madness' that cleaning supplies aren't on sale in the middle of a pandemic

Mr Gething told Sky News this morning that they were "clarifying" the rules.

"We are looking to have that clarity for everyone so you don’t see cards for example sealed up in one shop but available in another," he said.

"If there really are exceptional circumstances and someone needs what would otherwise be a non-essential item, that that can happen as well."

In addition, police have been carrying out spot checks on people travelling in the country.

British Transport Police's North Wales team faced anger over the weekend after sharing a now-deleted photo of officers crowding around a passenger on a train.

And many in the country have now lashed out at Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford.

I’m literally raging and in tears. Tesco, how the hell is beer essential and PERIOD PRODUCTS non-essential?
Twitter user Nichola-Louise

He has confirmed a review into items on sale in supermarkets will take place this week.

He said: "We’ll be reviewing how the weekend has gone with the supermarkets and making sure that common sense is applied.

"Supermarkets can sell anything that can be sold in any other type of shop that isn't required to close.

"In the meantime, please only leave home if you need to."

The Sun Says

WALES’ bonkers ban on supermarkets selling non-essential items has, predictably, ended in farce.

Over the weekend, frustrated shoppers took to social media to point out the bizarre inconsistencies baked into the rules. Socks are permitted, but not tights. Magazines but not books. Wine, but not the glasses to go with it.

Now, Cardiff women are up in arms because confused Tesco workers attempting to follow baffling guidance accidentally blocked their access to sanitary products.

And they won’t be the last victims of the half-baked policy.

The instinct of Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford is that because non- essential shops are forced to close during the “fire-break”, ALL Welsh shops must now be made poorer by the Government in the name of fairness.

That means that the country is now engaged in a race to the bottom, in which the only winners are online retail giants — some of which pay very little tax in the UK. And the losers are ordinary Welsh shop staff battling to stay afloat during this miserable recession.

Labour’s Mr Drakeford has embarrassed himself and his country.

And for what? Even the most pro-lockdown scientists have said that these draconian measures will only delay the spread of the virus for a few weeks.

Let’s hope the Welsh people soon decide that their foolish leader is no longer an “essential item”.