Shoppers at a Brighton branch of Tesco Express were surprised after spotting a tin of 'Boris value baked beans in austerity sauce'.
At first glance, the blue and white striped tin - which features a price sticker of £2.30 - looks rather like other Tesco value items you might find on the shelf.
However, after a closer look, it becomes clear that the tin isn't a real Tesco product and has been placed on the shelf in protest against the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, which has seen many families struggling to cover the costs of their weekly groceries shop.
The message is driven home further by a warning on the back, which declares the product to be 'unfit for human consumption', instead, urging people to donate money to a number of anti-food poverty organisations.
Get the news you want straight to your inbox. Sign up for a Mirror newsletter here.
The organisations listed are as follows: Trussell Trust, Independent Food Aid Network, End Child Food Poverty, The British Red Cross, and Feeding Britain.
As previously reported by The Argus, this tin - which promises 'misery guaranteed' - appeared after Environment Secretary George Eustice was criticised for encouraging households to opt for value brands.
Shopper Jess Tilley, who came across the beans at the Queens Street store, told the publication: “I had popped into Tesco Friday afternoon on my way home to grab a few items when I noticed the tin on the shelf.
“I had a closer look and was surprised to see that it was an artistic protest - no doubt over recent comments from the Conservative minister saying that those who cannot afford food should eat 'value range'."
In a recent interview with Sky News, Eustice said: "Generally speaking, what people find is by going for some of the value brands rather than own-branded products - they can actually contain and manage their household budget."
These comments were made after it emerged that shoppers are now grappling with the steepest rise in shop prices since September 2011, with a hike of 2.7 per cent on last year, according to the British Retail Consortium-NielsenIQ price index.
The Mirror has contacted Tesco for comment.
Do you have a similar story to share? We pay for stories. Get in touch at julia.banim@reachplc.com
