A Glasgow company that told staff they could prevent coronavirus by eating baked beans has apologised for any “distress” caused.
Premier Housewares, a furniture firm, said employee welfare is their “overriding” concern and claimed they to have taken “robust” steps to protect safety.
Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: “It’s good the company has now dropped this dangerous advice. They owe their staff an unequivocal apology. It shouldn’t take a bad headline to force employers into doing the right thing."
The company found itself at the centre of a storm over an all-staff email sent by consultant Shokat Mobarik.
Issued on March 16 - a time when measures to combat the pandemic were being stepped up - Mobarik wrote:
“In view of the current concerns regarding the coronavirus scare, I suggest everyone takes plenty of vitamin c and also tries to eat as much of the foods described on the following link to boost their immune systems.”
The link contained a list of healthy foods, such as sardines, citrus fruits, sweet potato, carrots and brazil nuts. Also on the list were pumpkin seeds, garlic, walnuts and baked beans.
He added: “Remember, prevention is better than cure!”
Mobarik also wrote: “The issue has been blown out of proportion by an irresponsible media which is causing panic everywhere.
“The following statistics regarding the main causes of death worldwide from the World Health Organisation will help you to understand how small a problem this is compared to other health problems which are the cause of so many deaths worldwide every year.”
Insiders told the Daily Record that staff were still being asked to come in to work, even though Government guidance backed essential business continuing.
In a statement, Premier Housewares Managing Director Awais Mobarik said:
“The current situation regarding COVID-19 is fast-moving and like many employers we are learning as we go and adapting quickly. We’re sorry for any distress caused to employees and want to reiterate that our overriding concern is their welfare."
He added: “Over the past ten days we have taken robust steps to ensure their safety. Several members of our workforce are now working from home where possible while a significant number have been furloughed.
"A small number of staff remain on site, where they are fulfilling orders for a range of customers including NHS key workers as well as local authorities and housing associations.
“The decision to keep this part of the business operational is in line with government guidance, which says warehouses and distribution centres should remain open to fulfil orders. Indeed, many of the orders we are fulfilling are for kitchen and home products, which have taken on increased importance for people during this difficult time.”
