Tesco makes big change to meat packaging – and shoppers will decide if it’s a permanent shake-up

TESCO is making a big change to meat packaging and shoppers will get to have their say on whether it should be permanent.

The supermarket giant has become the latest grocery store to make a change to its mince meat.

Instead of the traditional tray and top wrap packet, Tesco shoppers will see the meat stored on shelves in new pillow packs.

The new packaging is being introduced as part of trial in just nine stores and across two lines of mince meat.

The change is being to packaging for the 500g Tesco Beef Lean Steak Mince 5% fat (£3.49) and Tesco Beef Mince 500g 20% fat (£2.49).

The following stores taking part in the trial are as follows:

• Borehamwood
• Cheshunt
• Epping
• Hatfield
• Hertford
• Hornchurch
• Ponders End
• Potters Bar
• Waltham Abbey

If customers like the new pillow packs, Tesco will roll them out to more stores and across more lines. 

The retailer says the new packaging uses 70% less plastic.

The recyclable pillow packs are an alternative to vaccum packs introduced by retailers like Lidl, Sainsbury's and Co-op for their mince meat.

The slightly inflated pillow keeps the mince fresh and prevents it from being compressed at all. 

But Tesco is assuring customers that the new packs contain the same amount of mince as the old ones.

Dom Morrey, Tesco commercial director for fresh, said: “As well as looking for great value when they shop, customers want to see less plastic packaging in their trolleys.

"Pillow packs are a win-win: they keep the mince in perfect condition while requiring much less plastic."

Sainsbury's was the first to announce a change to its mince meat packaging in March across its 600 stores.

Shoppers now get vacuum-sealed mince even if they order for delivery or click and collect.

But in response, customers slammed the change, complaining that now the meat sticks together in a lump.

A Sainsbury's spokesperson responded to the backlash, saying the supermarket is "always looking for new ways to innovate packaging".

Co-op also switched up its beef packaging in May for environmental reasons - and it's currently rolling out the vacuum-sealed versions across its 2,500 UK stores.

The change affects 11 Co-op meat products altogether.

While Lidl has opted for recyclable vacuum-sealed packaging which uses two thirds less plastic.

Elsewhere, other supermarkets have made changes recently in a bid to cut costs and be more environmentally friendly.

Posh shop Waitrose ditched its red, blue and green milk caps over the summer.

While Aldi has been trialling the switch since August, ditching its coloured caps.

More than 300 fruit and veg products no longer have best before dates on them at Marks & Spencer.

And Asda ditched the dates from almost 250 of its fresh fruit and vegetable products last September.

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