Sainsbury’s is defending new vacuum packs for its ground beef that shoppers say turn the meat into mush

Sainsburys have defended their new vacuum-packed minced meat – after shoppers slammed the packaging and said it turned their meat into mush.

Customers didn’t mince words as they criticized the new packaging for transforming their groceries into a ‘meat brick’, saying it destroyed the traditional texture of the staple.

And the supermarket chain has seen an exodus of regular customers from its stores as they scramble to chop it up into their Bolognese, according to reviews.

This comes after Sainsbury’s became the first store to replace conventional packaging with vacuum packs for its ground beef in February.

Using at least 55 percent less plastic saves 450 tons of plastic a year, according to the chain – while the innovative packaging also keeps it fresher.

Ground beef lover Vicki Cole from Huddersfield (pictured) buys four 750g packs of ground beef a month for her staples – cottage cake, lasagne, chili and keema curry. But she was shocked after taking home her latest purchase from Sainsbury’s

The supermarket chain has seen an exodus of customers from its stores as they scramble to chop it up into their Bolognese, according to reviews. Pictured: Vicki Cole’s kitchen

Sainsbury’s was the first store to replace traditional packaging with vacuum packaging for its ground beef. Using at least 55 percent less plastic saves 450 tons of plastic a year, according to the chain – while the innovative packaging also keeps it fresher

Ground beef lover Vicki Cole from Huddersfield buys four 750g packs a month for her staples – cottage pie, lasagne, chilli and keema curry.

But she was shocked after taking home her latest purchase from Sainsbury’s.

“They sucked out all the air and crushed it so it fell out of the packet and into the frying pan in a big rectangular lump,” she told the BBC.

“When I started breaking it up with the wooden spatula, it stayed in big balls that cooked on the outside but not the inside.

“I understand that we need to use less plastic, but if they don’t find a viable alternative, they will lose customers because I won’t buy it there. You have to listen to the feedback.”

Ms Cole complained that the ground beef took her 40 minutes to roast, by which point it was tough and chewy.

Sainsbury’s have offered her a refund in Nectar points, which she will accept.

When asked by a customer who said the packaging turned the meat into “porridge”, Sainsbury’s said: “The ground beef products are vacuum packed for freshness by removing all of the oxygen that normally causes a product to eventually spoil.

Customers didn’t mince words when they slammed the new packaging, slamming the packaging for turning their food into a “meat brick,” saying it destroyed the traditional texture of the staple

Some customers who gave the ground beef a one-star rating on the supermarket’s website called the new packaging “woke,” “cynical,” and “the meat brick.”

Sainsbury’s defended the packaging, saying it allows customers to use their freezer and fridge space more efficiently

“The packaging is also smaller, which helps customers use their freezer and fridge space more efficiently.”

In another tweet, they added: “We are working towards our goal of halving the use of plastic packaging in our private label products by 2025.

“Our vacuum-packed ground beef packaging uses at least 55% less plastic, saving over 450 tons of plastic per year.”

But customers remained furious, with one blasting the supermarket as “woke up”.

One slammed the supermarket saying, “This IS NOT ground beef! It’s a massive failure in Sainsbury’s attempt to reduce plastic… as have some other attempts.

“This ‘minced meat’ is so compressed that it cannot separate.

‘Abominable! Will not buy again!

“Wake Sainsbury’s should go back to the decent stuff… but until they do I’ll just use a local butcher going forward.

“Sainsbury’s recently passed the mark. The quality has gone down the drain!’

Another, who left a one-star review, raged: “Cynical for hiding behind ‘use less plastic’ when the change is simply to increase profits.

‘You should rename it ‘Meatbrick”

A third said: “The new packaging destroys the traditional texture of ground beef, is unappetizing and makes it difficult to cook.

“If Sainsbury’s doesn’t switch back, we’ll be buying our ground beef elsewhere.

“Has anyone bothered to test this change on consumers? Huge own goal.’

And another moaned: “Sainsbury’s mince has always had to be used quickly before it discolours but the new packaging makes it look dead on arrival.

“I can no longer judge the freshness and since the undated fruit/vegetable seems to have a shorter life at home I’m keeping my hands off it after I threw away the last pack.”

But some shoppers saw the funny side of the controversy — they taunted the whiners for getting so worked up about “First World issues.”

One, who gave the ground beef a 5-star rating, laughed: “Some people have way too much time on their hands.

“Good quality ground beef, love the new packaging – saves space, stacks much better in the fridge/freezer and is better for the environment.

“Minced meat needs to be chopped up when sealing – no real difference from previous packs, just 10 seconds more poking with the spatula.

‘Grow up folks! Find a real reason to be upset about it!’

A spokesman for Sainsbury’s said: “We are always looking for new ways to innovate packaging to meet our ambitious plastic reduction targets.

“Our new vacuum-packed ground beef packaging uses 55% less plastic and saves over 450 tons of plastic per year without compromising taste or quality.”

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk