Tesco - poor response to a valid query

[Mud Island Dweller]

l am not sure the upset as stated many products do not have carb content inc. small craft food makers....they do not have money to do breakdowns.
And again what do you do when you go out or use freah food at home?
More to the point if you lchf you seem to say you do? l wouldnt waste my allowed carbs on a chunk of carbs that l get nothing out of but trouble.
Tesco have several ready food sections...
Sandwiches = bread = high carbs avoid
Salad = fine = buy that pre prepared often even oil/cream in there with a fork.

 

[lizdeluz]

My advice is give it up. A sandwich with two slices of bread, either white or brown, and a filling of your choice? Any carb counting diabetic should be armed with the information already and not dependant on the packet to tell them. Too many people expect to have everything there laid out for them and if there's one thing this forum has proven over many years it's that arming yourself and educating yourself in all aspect diabetes is the best way ahead.

As for Tesco's response: we, as diabetics, should actually be quite happy that 1. they support a diabetes charity and 2. they acknowledge that there is no merit in a diabetic friendly range and don't just have one for the sake of profiteering. Their response states that "your practise nurse/dietician will give you details on a healthy diet" and yes, they are quoting what is "recommended for everyone" and this comes from the Government. Whether you subscribe to that or not they are not going out on a limb and making up their own advice.

There are some just causes out there worth pushing but for me, this just ain't one of them.

I agree with much of what you say about this issue as it relates to diabetes. However, from a broader perspective and for all customers, diabetic or not, why shouldn't nutrition data be available for all prepared food on sale in supermarkets? It would certainly help everyone to arm and educate themselves to eat healthily or choose not to.

 

[noblehead]

I agree with much of what you say about this issue as it relates to diabetes. However, from a broader perspective and for all customers, diabetic or not, why shouldn't nutrition data be available for all prepared food on sale in supermarkets? It would certainly help everyone to arm and educate themselves to eat healthily or choose not to.

I agree, but nutritional information on packaging has come on a long way in recent years (but admittedly has some way to go), when I was diagnosed in the early 80's hardly any foods had the nutritional information printed on it.

 

[bonerp]

i think some of you are slightly missing the point.
1) what is the value of adding nutritional info per 100g then not adding the weight of the actual item?! In fact making sandwiches is very accurate and therefore adding the actual values is very easy.
2) their response was ****. End of. I didn't ask for information on managing my diabetes. I asked them to make the information provided useful/meaningful.

Their follow on responses have been equally vague.

in addiiton, Diabetes UK have been frankly useless also. I asked them to lean on Tesco to make changes to their product lines to make them clearer - whether its adding the actual weight or the carb content. All they've done is asked Tesco to respond....which they already have in a very non commital way.

Seems like Tesco don't care too much for providing actual, meaningful information.

 

[lovinglife]

l am not sure the upset as stated many products do not have carb content inc. small craft food makers....they do not have money to do breakdowns.
And again what do you do when you go out or use freah food at home?
More to the point if you lchf you seem to say you do? l wouldnt waste my allowed carbs on a chunk of carbs that l get nothing out of but trouble.
Tesco have several ready food sections...
Sandwiches = bread = high carbs avoid
Salad = fine = buy that pre prepared often even oil/cream in there with a fork.

I agree with most of what you say Mud, but for me it wasn't the item that was in question but the reply, it was condescending, presumptuous, patronising and ill thought out. Probably sent by someone who has no idea about diabetes and in no way qualified to dish out advice, and as OP said it looked like a cut and paste job anyway.

IMHO a really bad way to deal with a customer request whatever it was

 

[Daibell]

I actually feel a bit sorry for the Customer Services person who was in some ways trying to be helpful. The real problem is the sources of woefully bad information he/she was drawing upon. I could have warned you that contacting DUK would be a waste of time, and aren't they and Tesco currently running a Diabetes awareness campaign? The food industry Carb machine moves forward unabated.....BTW I always assume two thin slices of bread are 25gm and take it from there.

 

[lizdeluz]

@bonerp: nutrition labelling​

You're right, sandwiches should be labelled with their weight, and their corresponding KC, Carb, Fat and Protein content.

@ Daibell: 'I could have warned you that contacting DUK would be a waste of time, and aren't they and Tesco currently running a Diabetes awareness campaign? The food industry Carb machine moves forward unabated..... '
​

I expect the Customer Services person was trying to be helpful but his/her hands were tied.

Tesco was highlighted on Channel 4 news last night for 'listening to parents' re removing sweets from check-out areas. The reporter showed however that, of course, there's massive cynical marketing of unhealthy treats for children all round the stores at child-eye level.

However, I'm sure Tesco would like to give the impression they care about children's health, and, yes, it seems they have committed to giving their consumers the message that they are diabetes-aware. So, if that is the case, we could give them just a little more time to respond to the OP's very valid question/complaint about sandwiches. At present Tesco don't seem to have given a straight answer and the issue is not sorted.

​

 

[Dillinger]

They were trying to be helpful I guess but in that annoying way of 'I'll just make it up' if I don't know the answer.

I particularly liked the advice to eat "non-dairy sources of protein and dairy". I'm trying to imagine what a non-dairy source of dairy is?

But as has been said above the simple way to do this is just not eat the things; I'll sometimes eat their sandwich fillers but the best low carb ones (tuna crunch) seem to be getting phased out to be replaced by horrible high carb things (I'm looking at you New Yorker sandwich filler...)

Best

Dillinger

 

[julifriend]

There's a variation on the Tesco advertising tag line that applies here 'Very Little Help'.

 

[Hooked]

What a patronising reply. It reads to me like they are almost saying you don't need to know the exact carbs in the packet as long as you choose healthy. I would be tempted to reply with a thanks for the dietary advice, but that your dietician, diabetic consultant and diabetes specialist nurse all advise carb counting for your diet so you can match your medication to it.... and correct them on the "British Diabetic Association" name.

There's a few times in there that I've had to put stuff back on the shelves because the actual or approx. weight of the packet isn't on it and I'm out and about (oddly enough - without a set of scales!). Not very helpful when it's something you aren't as familiar with eating and unsure of how to count the carbs in it.

A company as large as they are know how much their stuff weighs... they need to get their a$$ in action and print it on the packaging.

 

[bmorgen]

Yes, Tesco's reply is appalling. But on a practical front, here is how I view their sandwiches:

1) if it has loads of meat and/or mayo, then throw away one piece of bread, fold the rest in half, and pretend it is a thick American-style sandwich. ! slice of bread with a lot of balancing fat and protein won't spike most of us.

2) if is mostly undressed salad and a tiny slice of meat, then don't buy it. If you throw away a slice of bread, you will end up hungry (and prone to cheat) and if you just eat it the low proportion of fat and protein won't slow the carb absorption, so the sandwich is a poor food choice.

 

[Scardoc]

i think some of you are slightly missing the point.
1) what is the value of adding nutritional info per 100g then not adding the weight of the actual item?! In fact making sandwiches is very accurate and therefore adding the actual values is very easy.
.

The point is why should we constantly rely on everyone to provide the information for us? A quick trip to the fruit and veg aisle, plonk the sandwich on the scales and job done.

 

[Hooked]

The point is why should we constantly rely on everyone to provide the information for us? A quick trip to the fruit and veg aisle, plonk the sandwich on the scales and job done.

But you would have to unwrap whatever it was you wished to purchase first before doing that. And not many supermarkets have scales in their fruit and veg section anymore.

 

[mo1905]

I think it would be nice if fresh sandwiches were labelled with carb content but surely we can manage a pretty good guess ? Most of us know how a slice of bread affects us. The filling is often very low carb ( I said often, not always ) so I would guess most of us could make a decent estimate. Food labelling is fantastic now compared to 10 years ago. We also have the benefit of apps which we can use too. I just think it may be a bit harsh giving Tesco a grilling. They abide by all food labelling laws and more. If you feel angry, maybe it's the Government you should be blaming.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

 

[Ian DP]

Generaly I have found Tesco very good at clear labelling. I have found Liddle to be the worst (either absent or so small I can not read even with glasses).
I asked our local butcher for some low carb sausages. They had never heard of low carb, they were in the middle of making sausages, I asked the manager... His reply was all their sausages were healthy low fat .... I walked out!!!
Our local village shop sells local sausages.... No carb info on packet.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

 

[CollieBoy]

Mo,
It would be nice if fresh sandwiches were labelled with carb content, and we would NORMALLY be able to hazard a guess IF we had control of the ingredients, but the makers can (,and will if it is profitable,) vary the nutritional content of the sandwiches terribly.
It may be horrible to say this but as a T! on insulin, you can adjust your insulin but T2s, not on insulin have to rely on their carb count to balance things. Would you put up with an insulin supplier that varied their strength from vial to vial?

 

[mrman]

I have had pre packed sandwiches from tesco. Although little print on back I have seen total carb content stated on them. Usually have a good reading after too.

Type 1, pumping nova rapid

 

[CollieBoy]

I asked our local butcher for some low carb sausages. They had never heard of low carb, they were in the middle of making sausages, I asked the manager... His reply was all their sausages were healthy low fat .... I walked out!!!
Our local village shop sells local sausages.... No carb info on packet.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

Ian, the problem is you have a butchers run by a manager, not an owner!
I am lucky that mine is run by an owner and if I ask for something he doesn't understand he admits it,asks what it is i am seeking and tries to offer a solution( he usually succeeds)

 

[mo1905]

Mo,
It would be nice if fresh sandwiches were labelled with carb content, and we would NORMALLY be able to hazard a guess IF we had control of the ingredients, but the makers can (,and will if it is profitable,) vary the nutritional content of the sandwiches terribly.
It may be horrible to say this but as a T! on insulin, you can adjust your insulin but T2s, not on insulin have to rely on their carb count to balance things. Would you put up with an insulin supplier that varied their strength from vial to vial?

I get your point Fergus but if you know the carbs in 2 slices of bread, would the filling vary hugely ? I mean, if it's a cheese sandwich, how much variation can there be ? If it's tuna & sweetcorn, how many carbs ? I'm not trying to be confrontational and I agree labelling would be good but I just can't see it being as much of an issue as perhaps eating out in restaurants for instance, now that I can fully understand would be difficult for T1 or T2. As for variable results, I'm used to it with our meters lol ! I would guess there is more variable in my meter than in a Tesco sandwich filling ! Anyway, my main point was Tesco are abiding by all food labelling laws. If we want change, it's the Gov't we need to address really. Point taken though Fergus

 

[mrman]

Its on the label on the back. Total carbs, might just be my local tesco?

Type 1, pumping nova rapid