Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) are taking legal action against supermarket chain Sainsbury’s for allegedly using too much packaging on their beef joints.
The case states Lincolnshire County Council’s trading standards called for action to be taken because the supermarket’s Taste the Difference beef joint had three layers of plastic around it.
The council claimed Sainsbury’s broke a seven-year-old law called the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations. It’s the first time a supermarket has ever been prosecuted under the act.
The act states that packaging should be designed “to minimise its impact on the environment when packaging waste or residues from packaging waste management operations are disposed of.”
The problematic Sainsbury's beef packaging.
The news comes after Sainsbury’s, fronted in their adverts by chef Jamie Oliver, announced on Thursday that they were reducing their cereal packaging to just bags.
They have also moved their tomatoes into cartons rather than tins, and milk is now sold in thin bags. The third biggest supermarket said this will save 165 tonnes of packaging per year.
The case follows a complaint made by a customer at Sainsbury’s Tritton Road branch in February, who then contacted Lincolnshire County Council.
Peter Heafield, Head of Trading Standards at Lincolnshire County Council said: “Excessive packaging on goods can cause unnecessary damage to the environment and increase costs associated with recycling and landfill.
“LCC has a duty to enforce regulations, which require businesses to review and reduce their packaging so items are packaged only in a way that is necessary for issues such as protection of the product and consumer acceptance.”
Sainsbury’s are “very surprised” by the claim, as since February the packaging on the Ultimate Slow Matured joint has been reduced by 53%, and will be reduced another 10% by December.
A spokesperson for the supermarket said: “We are surprised at the comments made by Lincolnshire County Council, which do not reflect the very positive outcome of our meeting with Lincolnshire’s packaging team.
“In fact, we have been informed that the council, in light of that meeting, is currently looking again at whether it will proceed.”
Already, customers buying the beef will see that the original packaging (pictured) has been replaced with a slimmer version.
The case against Sainsbury’s has been dated for October.
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We are appealing for help to identify the man in this image who we believe may be able to help us with our enquiries into an alleged assault in The Scene in Lincoln.
The man pictured is described as having medium length dark coloured hair, and is wearing a T-shirt, jeans and white trainers.
It was reported than a man in his 20s was approached by an unknown man who bit him on the left side of the neck causing an injury. He also reported being punched in the head causing minor bruising.
If you know the person in the image, please contact us. There are a number of ways to get in touch: Please email [email protected] quoting crime reference number 22000379383 in the subject line.
Or call 101 quoting 22000379383.
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Salim Ahmed Alim, aged 39, of George Boole Drive in Lincoln has been charged with attempted murder. He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on 18 August.
He was arrested after a woman in her 40s suffered serious injuries.
We are continuing to appeal for anyone with information about the incident to come forward with any details they can share to help our investigation.
If you have information which can help us, there are a number of ways to get in touch:
By calling 101 quoting incident 57 of 17 August.
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If you wish to remain anonymous, you can report via the independent charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.
Original release:
We have launched an investigation after a woman has suffered multiple injuries at a property in George Boole Drive, Lincoln.
Officers were alerted by the ambulance service that a woman in her 40’s had suffered significant injuries at 4.10am this morning (17 August).
On arrival, they found a woman with what is believed to be stab wounds to her back, arm and chest. She received treatment on the scene before being transported to hospital where she remains in a serious condition.
Following a swift response by officers, a 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder 13 minutes after the call was received. He remains in police custody.
We believe this is an isolated incident and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.
Officers remain on scene and in the local area today while we carry out enquiries.
We are now appealing for anyone with information about the incident to come forward with any details they can share to help our investigation.
If you have information which can help us, there are a number of ways to get in touch:
By calling 101 quoting incident 57 of 17 August.
By emailing [email protected] quoting incident 57 of 17 August in the subject line.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can report via the independent charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.
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