According to reports, Marks & Spencer has withdrawn Union Flag bags from its food hall in Sprucefield Shopping Centre in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. The Union Flag bags were reportedly sent to the store by mistake. Customers at the food hall were said to be furious at having no choice but to use the Union Flag-emblazoned carriers after a mixed-up shipment.
M&S usually offers an alternative countryside design on its Northern Ireland bags for cultural sensitivity. M&S introduced regionally themed paper bags in 2024, following its announcement to phase out plastic bags for life and move towards a more eco-friendly alternative. The bags retail at 40p each and can carry up to 15kg, are water-resistant, and recyclable once worn.
Each bag features a distinctive design representing England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, crafted using produce arranged into national symbols. The England bag displays a fruit-based union flag, Scotland's design uses oats and berries to form St Andrew's Cross, Wales is represented by a dragon built from vegetables and spices, and the Republic's bag depicts the island using green vegetables. A spokesperson for the Traditional Unionist Voice party argued that M&S should not have been required to withdraw bags it routinely uses elsewhere across the country.