Bin the food packs we can’t open, stores told

DESIGN experts yesterday called for an end to ‘ageism’ in food packaging.

They argue that childsafe bottles, blister packs, ring pulls and tamper-proof lids can upset older people who battle to open them.

The campaigners want ‘minimum standards’ imposed on the packaging of household goods.

Colum Lowe, former head of design at the National Patient Safety Agency, said he had been indundated with complaints from elderly people who had spent up to an hour trying to force their way into packaging.

Others ended up in hospital after cutting themselves in the attempt.

Mr Lowe, who is the director of the Design Age Institute at the Royal College of Art, said customers rouments tinely asked supermarket assistants to open containers for them before going home. He added: ‘People often feel stupid or blame themselves when they can’t get into packaging, but it is not their fault at all – it is needlessly bad design which is ageist.

‘Many people have to use gadgets and tools to try to get into packaging, which are often potentially sharp and dangerous in themselves.

‘That should not have to happen, and guidelines are being ignored, so we need legal rules to ensure packaging is accessible for everyone.’

The Design Age Institute is seeking 10,000 signatures for a petition on minimum packaging standards, to ensure it has a Government response. It is calling for packaging improveto include square jars that are easier to grip, ring pulls that require less force and tamper-proof plastic rings that are less firmly attached.

A survey of 2,000 retired and semiretired people, carried out by the institute, found packaging left many feeling ‘old’ and ‘incompetent’.

According to the survey, 60 per cent found food and medicine packaging the most frustrating household items. Other issues were childproof catches on boxes for washing liquid capsules, resealable packs, the foil on toothpaste tubes and sachets that say ‘tear here’.

Some pensioners reported using everything from knives and scissors to pliers and nutcrackers to try to access packaging, but often gave up or waited for family help.

The petition will be presented at a free exhibition at the Design Museum London from Friday to March 26. It is available at: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/625867

‘Feel stupid or blame themselves’