Tesco Denies Rumors That It ‘Censored’ Vegan Sausage Advert

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2 Minutes Read

The advert has made waves since it was launched (Photo: Tesco) - Media Credit:

Tesco has denied rumors that it has ‘censored’ its advert for vegan sausages.

The retail giant launched its ad called Carl’s ‘All-Change’ Casserole, on the radio, TV, and posters earlier this month. It features a father called Carl, who reformulates his sausage casserole recipe after his young daughter comes home from school one day and says: “I don’t want to eat animals anymore.”

A number of social media users discussed the advert on Twitter, asking whether it had been censored – but Tesco told Plant Based News that this is not the case.

https://twitter.com/C_Anderson1998/status/1186379902263742469

‘Demonizes meat’

The speculation followed multiple discussions of the ad on television and in newspapers, after the National Farmers Union releasing a statement accusing Tesco of ‘demonizing’ farmers.

“The NFU believes that messaging such as this is demonizing meat as a food group, which not only has negative connotations for farmers but also for the avocation of customers eating a healthy balanced diet,” it said.

“The NFU is clear that food and nutrition must be looked at as a whole, rather than food groups in isolation. Meat as a food group provides naturally rich in protein and are a good source of iron, zinc and essential vitamins.

“There are certain parts of the population, especially teenage girls, who are currently not eating sufficient quantities of these micro-nutrients to fulfil their dietary requirement.”

Changes

According to a Twitter user, a line in the advert had been changed from ‘I don’t want to eat meat’ instead of ‘I don’t want to eat animals’.

But a Tesco spokesperson told PBN that the advert hasn’t changed.

They added that the supermarket does have a shortened 10-second advert which does not feature the girl’s line about ‘not wanting to eat animals’ at all, as it places a greater focus on the products in the short time available.

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