A set of Christmas cards has been removed from Tesco’s online marketplace after their content drew significant criticism from health advocates and local organizations.
The card in question included a message that read: “Remember it just isn’t Christmas unless you push your body to the brink of alcoholism and diabetes,” according to the Southern Daily Echo, which cited concerns raised by the charity Lochlan’s Legacy.
Tesco has since taken the product down, noting that it had been available through a third-party Marketplace seller. The retailer told the outlet it is reviewing the matter to ensure similar listings don’t appear again.
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Local charity Diabetes U.K. said they reached out to Tesco regarding the cards and that the company confirmed they were swiftly removed from the Marketplace platform. The organization emphasized its commitment to addressing diabetes stigma, noting that harmful stereotypes contribute to misinformation surrounding the condition.
Lesley Murdoch, charity manager for Lochlan’s Legacy — which supports awareness and research for Type 1 diabetes — told the Southern Daily Echo that joking about diabetes is not harmless. She stated that the messaging “is not appropriate or humorous,” adding that it minimizes a serious condition impacting millions of individuals and their families.
Tesco remains the largest grocery retailer in the United Kingdom and also operates in Ireland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Isle of Man.
