Tesco unveils new label on over 450 items — what does the M-tick mean?

The supermarket has a new menopause-friendly section in 200 stores (Picture: Tesco)

If you go down to Tesco today, you might notice something a little different in the supermarket.

That’s because the retailer is trialling brand new labels to show which of its products are menopause-friendly.

Suitable items will have an M-tick on them, which is the world’s first symbol to signpost items that help support menopause symptoms. These labels will be clearly displayed on products both in-store and online.

A menopause-friendly section has also been set up in selected Tesco stores to help customers find these dedicated products and highlight other items that are safe to use when menopausal.

The new sections can be found at the end of an aisle in nearly 200 stores across Great Britain for the next six weeks.

The new M-tick labels will be on products in-store and online (Picture: Tesco)

It comes as Tesco joins forces with GenM, an awareness collective who empower brands to transform how women search, source, and shop when going through the menopause.

There are currently more than 48 recognised menopausal symptoms, and more than 70% experience one or more of these. Many of the symptoms can be debilitating and life-changing, so easy access to products that can help will make a world of difference for some.

Among the items featured on the dedicated displays will be Vitabiotics vitamins, Nivea, Olay, and Simple skincare products, as well as Tena and Always products. Davina McCall’s bestselling new book, ‘Menopausing’, will also be featured.

The new displays are on the end of an aisle (Picture: Tesco)

If you’re shopping online, Tesco.com, customers can browse a permanent dedicated menopause filter under the Health & Beauty section of the website, where they will find more than 450 carefully curated products chosen as a result of research into online shopping habits of those going through the menopause.

Tom Lye, Tesco’s category director for health, beauty and wellness, said: ‘Tesco is committed to transforming the shopping experience for those going through the menopause and working with Gen-M is the next step in supporting our customers and colleagues.

‘We hope the dedicated display in stores and the online filter will provide reassurance around what products are safe to use and help signpost to products that can ease the symptoms associated with menopause.’

Gen-M’s list of 48 menopause symptoms:

According to Gen-M, these 48 symptoms can be experienced throughout the menopause — whether that’s perimenopause, menopause or post menopause.

• Acne
• Altered skin
• Anxiety
• Bladder weakness
• Bloating
• Body odour
• Brain fog
• Breathing difficulties
• Burning mouth syndrome
• Changes in breast size
• Changes in sex drive
• Changes in skin texture
• Changes in taste and smell
• Decreasing fertility
• Dental problems
• Depression
• Dizziness
• Dry eyes
• Dry mouth
• Fatigue
• Feeling cold
• Headaches and migraines
• Heart palpitations
• Hot flushes
• Irregular periods
• Irritability
• Itchy crawly skin
• Joint pain
• Lack of motivation
• Loss of bone density
• Loss of concentration
• Loss of confidence and self-esteem
• Mood swings
• Muscle tension
• Nail changes
• Nausea and digestive problems
• Night sweats
• Recurrent UTIs
• Panic disorders
• Sagging breasts
• Short-term memory issues
• Sleep issues and insomnia
• Sore breasts
• Thinning hair
• Tingling extremities
• Vaginal dryness
• Weight gain
• Worsening PMS

Heather Jackson, co-founder of Gen-M, praised Tesco for the changes in-store and online, adding: ‘We are delighted to welcome Tesco into the GenM collective of responsible brands and retailers and couldn’t be prouder to see Tesco creating a designated space for menopause-friendly products in stores and deploying our game-changing menopause-friendly symbol, the M-Tick, as the all-important signpost to these products.

‘Tesco is pioneering the future of retail and leading the way in truly embracing and understanding menopausal consumers, underpinned by our research. All of this serves to empower this historically overlooked audience with the choice and control to manage their menopause in the way that best suits them. We can’t underestimate the impact of a national retailer leading the way and showing what is possible.’

Do you think other supermarkets should introduce menopause-friendly sections?Comment Now

As well as this brilliant supermarket update, Tesco shoppers were also recently given an urgent three-week warning about their Clubcards.

Millions in Clubcard vouchers issued in February 2022 are set to expire shortly, leaving you until February 29 to spend them before they’re gone for good.

The vouchers can be used in-store or online to help pay for your shop, with 150 points equal to the value of £1.50 at Tesco.

Alternatively, you can double your rewards by exchanging points for vouchers at more than 100 partners – but you’ll need to act fast if yours have been lying around waiting to be spent.

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