Coronavirus: Former NI politician blasts Iceland for insisting NHS workers must buy items they touch in store

Julie-Anne Corr-Johnston, a former Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) councillor on Belfast City Council, spotted the policy online and raised it immediately with Iceland Foods on social media.

The policy in question included the following line: "'if NHS workers touch products they have to buy them, they can't put them back".

Iceland Foods said the measure had been put in place to protect members of staffs from contracting Coronavirus COVID-19.

"Struggling to articulate my fury without the use of expletives," wrote Julie-Anne Corr-Johnston

"A profound and reprehensible lack of judgement," she added.

Iceland Foods responded saying the policy "should not have been posted on our website".

"Hi Julie. This was an error and should not have been posted on our website.

"We sincerely apologise for the offence this has caused and have immediately withdrawn this guidance.

"We are deeply grateful to the NHS and all key workers for all they are doing," said Iceland Foods.

Ms. Corr-Johnston was not alone in her criticism of the British supermarket chain.

NHS workers from all over the United Kingdom expressed their disappointment on social media.

"Thank you for assuming I am contaminated and dirty," wrote one paramedic.

"NHS workers actually have better hand hygiene practices and understand how to use PPE (personal protection equipment) properly (unlike the rest of the British public).

"I’ll continue washing my hands and use another store," he added.

Iceland has since removed the policy from the website.

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