Poundland pulls 'hideous' plastic pumpkins from sale after customer backlash
PUMPKINS made from polystyrene for 'carving' have been pulled from Poundland's shelves following outrage over the use of plastic over actual pumpkin.
People are split about the Halloween item on sale in Poundlands across the UK but for Jemma Morgan, the plastic pumpkins were a step too far.
The shopper entered her local Poundland in Liskeard two weeks ago to find a box brimming with the brightly coloured balls.
Jemma put a post on her Facebook voicing her outrage at the 'ridiculous' pumpkins, which has been shared nearly 600 times and commented on almost 200 times.
Ms Morgan, who runs a junk food cafe, wrote: "I am appalled, beyond gobsmacked and wonder how we can improve the outlook for our environment when I see Poundland selling painted lumps of polystyrene as carving pumpkins.
"I was in Poundland looking for something else when I saw them.
"I do a lot with the Rame Peninsula Beach Care team doing beach cleans and we are forever finding polystyrene – it’s hideous to pick up and it doesn’t ever degrade, and here it was being presented to be chopped up, it’s ridiculous.
"I can’t help but think of how often we find those ‘impossible to clean up properly’ bits of broken up polystyrene on our beaches and wonder how long it will be before we find them with orange paint on.
"Feeling powerless when it comes to making a difference.
Ms Morgan accurately observed: "This has been invented by someone to make people buy it.”
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Many people were quick to their outrage about litter and plastics, with many disapproving of the product.
One user wrote: “This is disgusting! Total disregard to the tragic plastic problem.”
Another said: “It should be illegal to make pointless plastic tat. I thought companies were trying to show off how they're reducing their impact on the environment?!”
When quizzed, a spokesperson for Poundland said: “Decorative items such as these are designed for indoor use and for re-use in future years.
"However, I hope you’ll be pleased to hear while these items have been on general sale in many retailers, we confirm we’ve taken the decision not to re-purchase them and remove them from sale today.
"Poundland added that item will be removed from all stores across the UK."
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