Sainsbury’s shopper caught out by premium egg ‘carton con’
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Andrew Evans was preparing scrambled eggs when he discovered his premium purchase wasn’t what it seemed. Now shoppers are being told how to check what’s really inside the carton.
A shopper who paid for premium Burford Brown eggs discovered cheaper-looking white eggs inside, in what he says might be a very “middle class crime”.
Andrew Evans, 32, found the unexpected replacements when he opened the box to make scrambled eggs on toast. His wife Izzy, 31, had bought the six-pack of Clarence Court eggs at a Sainsbury’s in north London on October 12, but hadn’t checked inside.
Andrew believes another customer transferred the premium eggs into a cheaper carton, leaving the replacements for an unsuspecting shopper.
“It’s a sign that people are unhappy with the prices of items in the shop, but it’s also a lack of respect for fellow community members,” the software engineer said.
“It does feel like a bit of a degradation of the social contract.”
A six-pack of large Burford Browns was priced at £3.60, compared with £2.10 for Sainsbury’s own-brand eggs, a difference of £1.50.
Andrew compared one of the white eggs with a Burford Brown left over from another box and noticed its yolk was yellower.
Clarence Court says its hens’ diet includes paprika and marigold, contributing to the distinctive golden yolks.
Andrew admitted he wasn’t certain he could distinguish the eggs by taste. “It might be a bit of a placebo, but it feels a bit good having that orange yolk,” he said.
Similar complaints have emerged previously. In February, shopper Anita Wong reportedly discovered replacements in a Clarence Court Burford Buff box bought at Waitrose.
Sainsbury’s said Andrew’s experience appeared to involve eggs being swapped in store and offered a refund. “We’re sorry to hear about this customer’s experience,” a spokesperson said.
Clarence Court also offered a voucher and said the code on the photographed eggs did not belong to the company.
“It is impossible for our Burford Brown egg pack to have left our site holding the eggs Andrew and Izzy Evans have ended up with,” its spokesperson said.
Shoppers checking a Clarence Court carton can look for the brand’s distinctive crown logo printed on the eggshells.
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