Sainsbury’s has received backlash for its decision to remove chips from the children’s menu found in their in-store cafes.
Shoppers have noticed that Sainsbury’s have swapped chips for ‘healthier’ potato alternatives such as mashed potatoes, baked potatoes or sweet potato fries.
Main courses haven’t changed, which means classic children’s dishes such as fish fingers and chicken nuggets are still available. The only thing that’s changed is the option to add chips.
However, chips are still available for adults as a side dish, but have been completely removed from all children’s items.
Shoppers spoke to The Sun about their disapproval, with one calling the supermarket ‘killjoys’.
They said, 'My boy loves chips but wasn’t allowed them with his fish fingers. It’s a farce because chips are on the adults’ menu. When I pointed this out I was told kids can’t eat chips at Sainsbury’s.
'They are such killjoys. Who are they to tell me what I can or can’t feed my kids?'
Another parent added, 'Chips are loved by children and should be a treat when eating out. It’s crazy the store is dictating diet.'
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A statement on Sainsbury’s website reads, ‘All our kids' meals are developed for children aged 5 to 10 and contain no artificial colours or flavourings. Every meal is taste-tested by school-age children to ensure it gets the thumbs up from those who matter most.’
Despite the absence of chips, Sainsbury’s café’s still offer food that could be considered unhealthy, such as mac ‘n’ cheese and cheese and tomato pizza.
Children’s meals at Sainsbury’s cost between £1.30 and £3, and an adult side of chips is £1.40.
However, it turns out that they haven’t been selling chips on the children’s menus for a while, as a spokesperson told The Mirror, “We have not offered fried potato chips on the children’s menu in our cafés for 18 months, however we do offer oven cooked sweet potato fries.
"Customers can still buy fried potato chips and sweet potato fries from the main menu in our cafés.”
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