Tesco brings back pounds and ounces

Shoppers will be given choice of metric or imperial

The supermarket chain Tesco is returning to selling food using pounds and ounces because it says consumers do not understand metrication.

The store took the decision after a survey of more than 1,000 customers showed nine out of 10 still used imperial measurements in their heads.

Under European regulations enforced at the beginning of the year, the metric system of grams and kilograms must take precedence over imperial.

We are still using metrication, but are also featuring imperial because that is what our customers want

Tesco spokesman

But from now on, advertising boards in Tesco stores will feature imperial measures only - while food on the shelves will be labelled in both metric and imperial.

Scales at the stores' fruit and vegetable and deli counters will feature both measurements so customers have the choice.

Scales measuring products at the till will remain in metric, in compliance with EU law.

The company stresses that it is not flouting European regulations.

A spokesman said: "The issue is one of prominence. We are still using metrication, but are also featuring imperial because that is what our customers want."

Trading Standards Institute spokesman, Tony Allen, said Tesco's move was within the new law.

"If the weights are in metric at the till, that is all the law requires," he said.

"All the legislation says is that if you sell loose goods they need to be in metric quantities - but the price indications on the shelf can be in either metric or imperial or both.

Heavy fines

"We've always taken a soft approach with this, because there are more important and serious things we need to be concerned about."

As the law stands, shopkeepers can be fined £2,000 for pricing loose goods such as fruit and vegetables solely in imperial.

Since October 1995, all goods sold pre-packaged have had to be labelled in the metric system of grams and kilograms.

A poll, commissioned by the British Weights and Measures Association (BWMA) last year, said most people preferred to maintain imperial measures, alongside metric.

The survey, carried out by an independent polling company, found 72% of youngsters and adults in the UK wanted to keep imperial measures.

In fact, many young British people have divided loyalties, using a hybrid that mixes pints with litres, miles with metres, stones with kilograms.