THE Union jack packaging referred to by Eva Mac in Wednesday’s letters section brought anger and frustration to me and in fact opened some old wounds.
Colleagues and I from Yes Clackmannanshire had championed the “Keep Scotland the Brand” campaign and had delivered thousands of flyers and engaged with shoppers at the incredible number of Alloa-based supermarkets. Generally we received encouragement and plenty of concern from shoppers of all political persuasions. I therefore thought I would take a look back at our archive of correspondence to these supermarkets, going back to 2018, and found that we had written to Tesco’s on 14 separate occasions but received no reply, Morrisons was only six separate letters with no replies, whilst Asda did eventually respond and gave us their word that they never put Union Jack labelling on Scottish produce and had a commitment to promote and sell local produce.
We are now approaching the epicentre of the Brexit negotiations breakdown and the disempowering attacks of the Tory single-market legislation, however it is worth reminding ourselves of the issues and concerns that we highlighted in those letters more than two years ago, and the questions we were asking at that time, namely: l Taking account of the negative environmental impacts of purchasing goods that are not “local” and have been transported over distance, we have no way of ensuring that what we are purchasing is in fact made or farmed locally. The blanket packaging of goods in Union Jacks therefore removes the distinctiveness of the produce’s locality. If it does not have a Saltire or a more local label, we have no idea where the product has come from. This does not reflect well upon these stores’ actions as being environmentally friendly and shows scant concern for their carbon footprint. In short, our ability of making an informed choice and purchase based on geography or localism is being removed from the customers.
READ MORE: Marks and Spencer blasted for haggis, neeps and tatties Union Jackery
- Also within an environmental context: foodstuffs that have been grown in Scotland are free from the use of all genetically modified crops, therefore the Saltire packaging indicates a healthier product compared to English produce where GM crops are allowed. What use is the Union Jack packaging policy in these circumstances? The removal of the Saltire is denying customers the choice to purchase GM-free products.
- Can we ask if the supermarket’s packaging policy is a rather clumsy but overt Unionist position and can you confirm that you are promoting a pro-Unionist political stand? In fact the store often looks like The Last Night Of The Proms.
- There is a plethora of issues relating to the branding of Scottish produce. Beyond Scotland’s national boundaries people want to purchase Scottish goods and know they are Scottish. This “Union Jack” approach demeans and devalues the distinctive ethos and unique quality of Scottish produce and will see a reduction in its consumption in Scotland and further afield. We again would encourage you to put the Saltire back on these products and stop undervaluing Scots products.
- Selling local produce supports local jobs. Why are your stores not being more proactive in supporting our local farmers and food producers?
We want Clackmannshire supermarkets to answer our questions or alleviate our concerns.
We are all consumers and we should use our powers wisely, but all these questions do make the weekly shop a bit more time-consuming and complicated.
So much for the neoliberal mantra of being “free to choose”.
Chick Hosie On behalf of Yes Clackmannanshire NOW that the UK Government has confirmed that that they are willing to break international law, it is surely imperative that we leave the UK immediately as Boris Johnson will have no qualms in shutting down Holyrood at 00:01 on 01.01.2021.
The May 2021 election must therefore be brought forward to late October or November, as Westminster will never grant a Section 30 Order. One can already see the increase in Yoonyunnjakkery in shops and the large gaps I see in supermarket shelves would seem to indicate that pre-Brexit stockpiling has started.
M Ross
Aviemore
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