Social media users react badly to TV campaign, with some suggesting the supermarket chain has ‘erased’ Christmas

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Tesco is facing a social media backlash after launching a video asking customers what they enjoyed eating at Christmas.

Asking “Turkey? Sauerkraut? Pie? Which food makes your Christmas dinner?”, the 16-second clip features customers describing their favourite festive foods.

Tesco (@Tesco) Turkey? Sauerkraut? Pie? Which food makes your Christmas dinner?



However you do Christmas, Everyone's Welcome at Tesco. #EveryonesWelcome pic.twitter.com/fIIPraiglC

The video sparked threats to boycott the retailer.

A tweet threatening to boycott Tesco over their Christmas advert Photograph: Twitter

This follows the backlash over Tesco’s TV Christmas advert, which features a Muslim family celebrating.

A tweet threatening to boycott Tesco over their Christmas advert Photograph: Twitter

Responding to the criticism over the ad, which was launched last week, the retailer said: “Everyone is welcome at Tesco this Christmas and we’re proud to celebrate the many ways our customers come together over the festive season.”

Some Twitter users questioned the motives of those who were upset to see Muslims enjoying Christmas.



Chloe☀ (@chloegibson96) It honestly baffles me that it's 2017 and idiots are planning to boycott Tesco because they showed a Muslim family on their Christmas advert 😶 90% of those will be the same ones who shout their mouths of about "if they're in our country, they live by our rules" #cantwin #tesco

Others welcomed the diversity on display.

KP (@kateannprice) Sihks, Muslims, gay Dads and stressed cooks. Well done @Tesco on an Christmas advert that is a celebration of all types of British people 👏🏽

Louise (@LouisePentland) Apparently (a small minority of) people are upset with the @Tesco advert because there are Muslim people in it. How ridiculous. Why not just enjoy Christmas and love everyone <3

The boycott threats tap into another longstanding issue that has dogged the supermarket on social media: the belief that the supermarket is selling unlabelled halal meat.

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Tesco has recently been forced to clarify its position, stating: “All our Tesco-branded meat suppliers to the UK market stun the animal before slaughter, even though some of this is also processed to halal standards.

“As we do not specify to these suppliers that halal practices should be followed, such as a blessing, we choose not to market the meat as halal. For example, the vast majority of New Zealand lamb sold in the UK is processed to the halal standards described.”

The retailer’s social media accounts have also repeatedly addressed the issue:

Tesco (@Tesco) All un-stunned halal meat is labelled as such, so no customer will be sold un-stunned Halal meat without knowing.



Thanks,

Lara - Customer Care

But Tesco’s inclusion of a Muslim family in its Christmas campaign has also sparked complaints about halal meat for another reason: the retailer has said it will not be selling halal-certified turkeys over the festive season.

Tesco (@Tesco) Hi Zohra, I am sorry to say that no we will not be selling Halal turkeys in store this year. Also are you referring to a Halal roasting joint or a Non Halal roasting joint? Thanks - Callum

In a separate development online over the weekend, the supermarket group has also been accused of “erasing” Christmas from its shelves by Paul Joseph Watson, who frequently appears on the conspiracy web site InfoWars.

Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) Was in Tesco earlier.



Their entire Christmas shelf - cards, wrapping paper, confectionary - not a single mention of the word "Christmas". Not a single one.



Christmas cards are now called "charity cards".



Pathetic. Truly pathetic.@Tesco

Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) They're not even calling them "Christmas crackers" anymore. pic.twitter.com/ZHXSZMyeZR

Others were quick to point out that the gold Christmas crackers in this photo feature the words “Merry Christmas”.

The range is one of many listed on the Tesco website as “Christmas crackers”.

Liam Gallagher (@LiamGall1983) 48 variations of Christmas crackers. They really hate Christmas. pic.twitter.com/nJGKgryly2

The Tesco site also features prominent graphics advertising the Christmas range, but this has not satisfied some social media users who claim there is a “war on Christmas”.

Mark 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@chislehurst) I agree with @PrisonPlanet - it's terrible that Tesco has decided to ban Christmas completely.



Wait, what..? pic.twitter.com/Yt77tNTinh

Still, some people at least saw a benefit to the campaign to boycott Tesco.