M&S' new cucumber pots spark unexpectedly heated debate

A divisive new cucumber-based product has hit Marks & Spencer's shelves, but not everyone is impressed with the snackable delight.

If you cast your mind back to summer 2024, then you may remember Europeans dashing to their local supermarkets to pick up dozens of cucumbers in order to recreate viral cucumber salads they had seen online.

The food trend, popularised by social media star Logan Moffit, saw recipe followers dicing the vine plant on a mandolin before shaking it up with weird and wonderful ingredients, such as chilli oil, salmon, rice vinegar, and cream cheese.

The Canadian’s countless recipes grew so popular that Iceland suffered a cucumber shortage, with the country’s farmers association, the Horticulturists’ Sales Company (SFG), admitting it was impossible to keep up with the demand.

Less than two years later, and M&S is bringing back the veggie in a big way.

This week, the fan-favourite supermarket launched two varieties of its new Shake-a-Cucumber pots.

Not everyone is impressed with how the snackable delight has been packaged (M&S)

The plastic punnets, featuring the Eat Well stamp (M&S’ health-seal-of-approval) count as one of your five a-day and come in at under 120 calories.

“Perfect for deskside lunches, easy sides or snack o’clock,” the official Marks and Spencer Instagram account wrote.

The plastic-packaged Shake-a-Cucumber pots come in two varieties: The Big Dill, featuring crunchy cucumber in a dill & gherkin cream cheese dressing; and Feeling Spicy, with cucumber dressed in spicy miso and sesame mayo.

The limited-edition products are designed to be shaken in the pot so every slice is coated, with the dressing kept separate to help the cucumber stay crisp, as per the M&S website.

Weighing 185g each, the Shake-a-Cucumbers should be kept in the fridge and can be purchased exclusively from M&S Foodhalls.

The unique item launch has apparently divided social media users, with some airing their grievances regarding its one-use packaging.

“So glad there's loads of anti-plastic comments here! We've taken a vegetable that can be sold with no packaging... Cut a few slices and put in a huge plastic pot?! This is one m&s food trend I won't be jumping on,” typed on Instagram user.

A second echoed: “Why does everything have to be in plastic tubs? Why not sell the sachets of sauce next to the cucumbers without packaging the cucumber? All seems a step backwards just for a viral trend.”

“Crazy I don’t get why people will buy this, please sell cucumber without being in plastic,” another questioned.

Jessica Wright, former Only Way Is Essex star, is seemingly a fan, writing: “Omg you guys you don’t stop bringing us the good stuff,” followed by a string of exclamation marks.

The limited-edition items are here for a good time, not a long time (M&S)

“Oh my!! My cucumber dreams have come true,” commented someone else.

A third fan’s sentiments included: “Everyone crying about the plastic needs to get a grip, use would be comparing if they packaged it in something that didn't keep it fresh.”

Someone else praised the item for being a brilliant 'Gluten Free on-the-go snack'.

Others have complained about the price of the pots, with reports claiming they are £2.65 a pop.

As a standard whole cucumber from M&S costs £1 on Ocado, it's quite a jump, claim many social media users.

"Wow…can get a WHOLE cucumber for less than £1. Convenience to the extreme!" said one user.

Another added: "£2.65 for a chopped up cucumber you can buy a cucumber for 99p."

You can grab the pots in your local M&S Foodhall now.

FOODbible has contacted the Marks & Spencer food team for comment.