Marks & Spencer has launched an investigation after a “Boycott Israeli Apartheid” sticker was placed on packets of Israeli potatoes at its Worthing store.

The retailer told UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) that the incident had been reported to the store manager and that any available information would be passed to the relevant authorities.

A customer discovered the Palestine Solidarity Campaign-branded sticker after buying a 1.5kg packet of Maris Piper potatoes from the West Sussex branch. The packaging identified Israel as the country of origin.

The sticker, bearing the colours of the Palestinian flag, urged shoppers to “Boycott Israeli Apartheid” and displayed the address of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s website. Photographs supplied to UKLFI show the sticker attached directly to the packet.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign sells identical stickers in packs of up to 1,000 and promotes a campaign encouraging consumers and businesses to boycott Israeli produce.

UKLFI wrote to M&S chief executive Stuart Machin on 11 July 2026, warning that placing stickers on products without permission may amount to unlawful interference with goods.

UKLFI said the circumstances could fall within section 38 of the Public Order Act 1986, which concerns interference with goods carried out with an intention including causing economic loss by inducing members of the public to shun them.

The letter asked M&S to investigate, alert staff across its stores to watch for similar tampering involving Israeli or kosher products, and report any identified perpetrators to the police.  UKLFI also thanked M&S for continuing to stock Israeli produce.

A spokesperson for M & S said: “We regularly check the products in our stores, and colleagues will be on the lookout for any products which appear to have been tampered with. Despite these checks, it appears as though an item has been tampered with without our knowledge.”

The incident has been reported to the Worthing Store Manager, who will investigate the incident and pass whatever information they have to the relevant authorities in line with UKLFI’s request.

A UKLFI spokesperson said:

“Political activists have no right to tamper with supermarket products in an attempt to intimidate customers or damage trade in Israeli goods. We welcome M&S’s prompt decision to investigate and to pass relevant information to the authorities. Stores should remain vigilant and take firm action whenever merchandise is interfered with in this way.”