Tesco controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2021
Tesco and Smyths Toys recall baby rattle over choking hazard
Recall announced
Tesco and Smyths Toys recalled the Clementoni Blooming Flower Rattle as a precaution after a white decoration on the toy was reported as potentially detachable and posing a choking hazard. Both retailers offered customers a full refund on return.
Company response
Refund or compensation — Tesco
Tesco customers can return it to their nearest store with or without a receipt to receive a full refund.
Refund or compensation — Smyths Toys
Please return your product to your local Smyths Toys Superstores for a full refund.
Source excerpt
Tesco customers can return it to their nearest store with or without a receipt to receive a full refund.
Both Tesco and Smyths Toys have recalled the Clementoni Blooming Flower Rattle as a precautionary measure for a potential choking hazard.
A safety notice from Tesco states that a white decoration on the front of the toy may detach, which babies could then choke on.
2021
Tesco recalls sauce packs with undeclared milk
Recall announced
Tesco recalled a small number of sauce packs because they contained milk that was not listed on the packaging.
Company response
Recall — Tesco
Tesco has issued a recall of a small amount of packs of sauce as they contain milk but the packaging fails to mention the ingredient.
Source excerpt
Tesco has issued a recall of a small amount of packs of sauce as they contain milk but the packaging fails to mention the ingredient.
2021
Tesco recalls cough medicine batches over incorrect child dosage labelling
Recall announced
The UK medicines watchdog recalled three batches of Tesco Flu-Max All In One Chesty Cough and Cold Powder after sachet artwork incorrectly said children aged 12 and over could take the medicine, although the product information says it should not be given to under-16s.
Source excerpt
The sachet artwork incorrectly states that children aged 12 years and over can take 4 sachets containing 1000mg of paracetamol (i.e. 4 doses over a 24 hour period), whereas the carton, PIL and SmPC state that the product is not to be given to the under 16s.
The UKs medicine watchdog is recalling Tesco Flu-Max All In One Chesty Cough and Cold Powder.
Published 13th Oct 2021
2021
Tesco Ireland recalls Cottage Pie Mini Meal Adventures
Recall announced
Tesco Ireland recalled a batch of its 190g Cottage Pie Mini Meal Adventures baby food over concerns that some pouches may contain pieces of blue plastic. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland said a recall order was issued.
Company response
Recall — Tesco
Tesco Ireland has recalled a baby food product due to fears that some pouches may contain pieces of blue plastic.
Source excerpt
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland said that a recall order was issued fr the Tesco Cottage Pie Mini Meal Adventures over contamination fears.
Tesco Ireland has recalled a baby food product due to fears that some pouches may contain pieces of blue plastic.
2020
Tesco fined over store safety breaches
Fine or penalty
Tesco was fined £733,000 after a 91-year-old man broke his hip when he slipped on water at its Hemel Hempstead store. Tesco pleaded guilty to two health and safety breach charges.
Company response
Apology — Tesco
A Tesco spokesman said: "Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our colleagues and customers and we are deeply sorry for this accident.
Remediation — Tesco
Since this happened in 2015, we've given all staff at this store improved training in health and safety and maintenance escalation procedures to make sure this doesn't happen again.
Source excerpt
Tesco pleaded guilty to two charges of health and safety breaches.
24 January 2020 SBNA Dennis Satchell was walking between aisles 17 and 18 in the dairy and meat sections of the shop when he fell Tesco has been fined £733,000 after a 91-year-old man broke his hip when he slipped on water on the floor of one of its stores.
2020
Lawyer sues Tesco over alleged mistreatment at store
Lawsuit filed
Lalu Hanuman filed a lawsuit against Tesco, alleging that he was falsely accused of taking an unpaid chocolate bar and forcibly moved back into a store. He claims the incident dislodged his kidney stones. Tesco admitted the chocolate had been paid for and explained that an inadvertent double-swipe of the barcode caused confusion. A UK court hearing was scheduled for July 21.
Company response
Clarification — Tesco
Tesco admitted that the chocolate had been paid for and explained the confusion over an inadvertent double-swipe of the barcode by the lawyer, who had required some assistance while using the self-service checkout till.
Source excerpt
A 63-year-old Indian-origin lawyer has filed a lawsuit against the UK's biggest supermarket chain Tesco over his alleged mistreatment which, he claimed, has dislodged his kidney stones.
Lalu Hanuman has claimed 70,000 pounds (USD 91,451) in damages after being falsely accused of "theft for walking away with an unpaid bar of chocolate".
A UK court hearing in the case is scheduled to take place on July 21.
2019
Tesco and Heinz recall selected baby food jars in the UK
Recall announced
Tesco recalled thousands of jars of Heinz baby food from its UK stores after sharp metal fragments were found in one jar. Heinz and Tesco said the products were removed from sale and described the voluntary recall as a precaution. Customers were advised not to use the affected jars and could return them to Tesco for a full refund.
Company response
Recall — Tesco
Tesco has recalled thousands of jars of Heinz baby food from its stores in the UK after sharp metal fragments were found in a single jar.
Apology — Heinz
We regret that this incident has happened and are sorry for the concern and the inconvenience that this recall may cause.
Refund or compensation — Tesco
Shoppers are advised not to use the Heinz 7+ months baby food jars purchased from Tesco and to return any jars to Tesco stores where they were bought for a full refund.
Source excerpt
Eight varieties on sale at Tesco are being recalled; sweet & sour chicken, mango chicken curry, cottage pie, cheesy & tomato pasta stars, Sunday chicken dinner, spaghetti bolognese, winter veggies & lamb and pasta bake with tuna.
We regret that this incident has happened and are sorry for the concern and the inconvenience that this recall may cause.
Shoppers are advised not to use the Heinz 7+ months baby food jars purchased from Tesco and to return any jars to Tesco stores where they were bought for a full refund.
2017
Deferred prosecution agreement and market-abuse redress
Tesco Stores entered a deferred prosecution agreement with the Serious Fraud Office concerning false accounting and agreed to pay a fine of approximately £129 million. Tesco plc and Tesco Stores also agreed to a redress scheme relating to the misleading 2014 trading update.
2014
Accounting irregularities and profit overstatement
Tesco disclosed that it had overstated expected profits by hundreds of millions of pounds, primarily through the early recognition of commercial income connected with suppliers. The disclosure led to executive suspensions, a Serious Fraud Office investigation, regulatory action and a leadership transition.
2013
Horsemeat contamination crisis
During the wider European horsemeat scandal, testing found undeclared horse DNA in Tesco-branded processed meat products, including products sold as beef. Tesco withdrew affected items, suspended or reviewed suppliers and introduced additional testing and traceability measures.