// Tesco responds to “racist” allegations of placing security tags on cosmetics for black skin
// The supermarket in Osterley, West London, placed the tags on Garnier’s Skin Active BB Cream
Tesco has apologised for placing security tags on cosmetics for black skin but not lighter skin tones in one of its stores.
The supermarket in Osterley, West London, had placed the tags on Garnier’s Skin Active BB Cream.
However, the £6.75 darker skin tone product had been placed in a security box, with the lighter shade untagged.
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A woman named Natalie Westgate took to social media to complain to the supermarket giant after a trip to her local store with her daughter in Osterley, West London.
She slammed the move as “absolutely disgusting and not to mention racist”.
In a tweet, she said: “Can you please explain this? Do white people not steal then? Absolutely disgusting and not to mention racist!!!!”
@tesco can you please explain this? Do white people not steal then? Absolutely disgusting and not to mention racist!!!! pic.twitter.com/u9K1wnQz5e
— Nut-Nut (@nataliewestgate) August 2, 2022
Initially, Tesco’s response was to ask her to direct message them on the platform. It said: “Please let me reassure you that it is never our intention to offend anyone through the security tagging of our products.
“Our stores may sometimes use security tags on items which have recently been subject to theft and the decision to do so changes from store to store.
“As a multicultural employer we are proud to service our local communities … we want to ensure that Tesco is a place where everyone feels welcome.”
Tescos reply pic.twitter.com/uZrIS716yJ
— Nut-Nut (@nataliewestgate) August 2, 2022
Then, after receiving a response, Westgate added: “I understand you have to security box items but do you think it is ok to only have the dark range security boxed and not the entire range.
“Please ask your race and ethnicity network and Black Voices Advisory Group what they think to security only boxing the dark range then get back to me.”
An utterly vile racist strategy from @tescospecifically security tagging black women’s makeup products only. The response initially from Tesco gaslighted the lady who rightfully raised serious concerns over this discriminatory behaviour.#EveryDayRacism https://t.co/k0yDrwqAuP
— David Challen (@David_Challen) August 4, 2022
A Tesco spokesperson then said: “We are deeply sorry that this has happened. This was a case of human error in the store and these products should not have been security tagged.
“It’s really important to us that Tesco is a place where everyone feels welcome, and the tags have now been removed.”
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