A Sainsbury’s shopper spotted an awkward mistake inside the UK chain supermarket – and it made them laugh so much, they shared the mishap online with other customers
Shoppers have been left in stitches after noticing an awkward mistake at Sainsbury’s – but some people say it happens more often than you realise. At first glance, many people failed to notice the mistake, but after taking the time to look at the packaging on Sainsbury’s milk bottles, they couldn’t unsee it.
It seems the supermarket accidentally accepted a food delivery from another supermarket and stocked its shelves with Tesco milk. After spotting the mishap, a shopper said on Reddit: “We were shopping in Sainsbury’s today (UK supermarket chain). We could not get the hand scanner to read the barcode on the milk container, then we noticed the brand name on the milk container.
“Whoops, we told a member of staff. They removed them from the shelf as quickly as possible.”
While most users shared a laugh over the situation, others claim it happens more often than you realise.
One user said: “This happened about once a week at the Sainsbury’s I worked at. Usually, they just gave it to colleagues for free. It’s all from the same place and delivered by the same lorry, just with another sticker.”
Another user added: “I used to work at a well-known brand factory packaging things for supermarket own brands.
“If I had to guess, this is probably Cravendale (Arla) or Müller with different packaging. They likely produce for both Tesco and Sainsbury’s.”
A third user said: “I work for the company that produces milk for most supermarkets, including Tesco and Sainsbury’s. I’m actually a delivery driver to the stores.
“This happens sometimes. The bottles look very similar, and we are often in a rush. We are supposed to check them off at Sainsbury’s as they do random external audits, and the fine for mistakes is mind-boggling (£175 per bottle, I believe), so that single trolley of 80 could have cost nearly £14,000 if spotted. I’ve been audited four times this year and passed all of them, thankfully.
“Usually, the staff notice it, and we get a phone call and swing by to pick it back up.
“Also, regarding cows, as I’ve seen other people ask: there are Tesco farms and Sainsbury’s farms.
“The milk from one is kept in store-specific silos and transported from cow to bottle in dedicated tankers. They do not mix. If milk from a Tesco farm ended up in a Sainsbury’s silo, there would be huge fines, and the entire batch would be scrapped. It’s incredibly strict.”
A final user said: “As I have family members who worked in food packing, I’ve always laughed at supermarket snobbery.
“It is the same product, made and packed in the same factories by the same people; only the label and price are different.”
