Tesco, Asda, and Sainsbury's have pulled disposable barbecues from their shelves due to the heightened risk of wildfires during the extreme heat. The major supermarkets are withdrawing the items after prolonged hot and dry weather has seen firefighters tackling blazes in Dunwich, Suffolk, and Wales.
Supermarkets respond to fire risk
Asda is the latest supermarket to take the products off its shelves on Tuesday. Sainsbury's has stopped the sale of the items until August 12, with Tesco and the Co-op pausing sales in July. Other retailers, including Wilko and The Range, have also removed the summer staples from online and in store.
Several other supermarkets, including Waitrose, M&S, Aldi, and Lidl, stopped selling the disposable items in 2022. It is understood that those pulling the items from their shelves have done so in line with voluntary guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). This guidance is currently in place until next Wednesday, hence Sainsbury's pause.
Calls for mandatory action
On Tuesday evening, it appeared as if Morrisons were still stocking the BBQs, however this could also change in line with other stores. Labour MP for High Peak in Derbyshire, Jon Pearce, asked retailers to stop selling single-use grills for the rest of the summer last week but added that government action is needed next year.
Mr Pearce told the Press Association that the NFCC guidance on disposable BBQs should be made mandatory, adding: “The big retailers are taking the lead, which is great, but now we need the others to come in behind them. “Asking them to suspend sales this summer is to deal with the immediate problem, but we have to accept the fact that the climate has changed.
“Last summer was the worst on record for wildfires. This year will almost certainly surpass it. We need to adapt quickly to our changing climate and start planning for next summer now.” He said he would continue to campaign to ensure a ban is placed on the use of disposable BBQs, adding: “The Government needs to genuinely look at what’s happening.
“It’s great retailers are supporting us this summer but I would expect the Government to look at the risks and act ahead of next summer.”
Fire service under pressure
As wildfires continued to spread, last week fire chiefs said there was an “increasingly significant and sustained pressure” on services, which have responded to more than 700 in England and Wales so far this year. The NFCC warned against the use of the one-time grills in public places in order to “significantly reduce the risk” of fires.
A spokesperson for Tesco said: “As a responsible retailer Tesco follows the voluntary code on the sale of disposable barbecues created by the British Retail Consortium and the NFCC. “In line with the code, we have temporarily removed disposable barbecues from sale across our stores and online.”
A Co-op spokesperson said: “Co-op takes its environmental and community responsibilities extremely seriously and has a long-standing policy for the safe sale disposable BBQs, supported by the NFCC. “Due to the very hot weather and drought conditions the UK is currently experiencing, and in line with the NFCC guidance, we have voluntarily removed all disposable BBQs from sale for a temporary period.”
