GERMAN supermarket chain Aldi has announced a major expansion plan for Spain in 2024, with its distribution centre in Sagunto (Valencia province) set to open next month and a another one on the cards for the north.
Consumer organisation OCU rates best supermarket disposable masks
16/01/2021
ONE of Spain's leading consumer organisations has rated the best disposable masks currently on sale in supermarkets and revealed some of the international kitemarks to look out for.
For 'ordinary' members of the public going about their day, hygiene masks are normally considered sufficient, since their aim is to prevent the wearer from infecting anyone else more than protecting the wearer him- or herself.
Rules differ from country to country and when travelling, however: In Spain, it is compulsory to wear one at all times when outside the home, even in the open air, and also in one's own car if travelling with someone not in the same household, and there are no exceptions; those who have respiratory conditions that genuinely affect their ability to breathe whilst wearing a mask will be required to show a doctor's note to prove this, although masks are not compulsory when carrying out strenuous exercise.
In the UK, masks are only mandatory inside public buildings such as shops, and on public transport, but not in the street or in a car with another person, and people with respiratory conditions are exempt from wearing them wherever they may be, without the need to prove this if challenged.
In Italy, including on flights travelling into the country, everyone has to wear surgical masks; hygiene masks, of the type worn in 'normal' times by people with a cold when they are around babies, the elderly or immune-compromised, are not enough.
Health workers and carers wear FFP2 and FFP3 masks, a much higher level of protection; although these are ideal if you can find them, masks for everyday errands do not have to be of this calibre in Spain.
Plastic face shields are considered a suitable substitute in Spain, but in the UK, these must be worn with a mask underneath and merely provide extra, not alternative, protection.
Masks for sale in Spanish supermarkets are generally very similar and their kitemarks and properties will be detailed on them, as well as, in the case of reusable ones, how many washes they can take and still provide enough protection against the wearer's infecting someone else if they are Covid-positive but do not realise it.
Consumer organisation OCU found that the best three disposable versions in Spanish grocery stores at the moment were the ones sold in Día, Mercadona and Lidl.
The information published is now a few weeks old – the OCU gives their prices at around €6 for a packet of 10, but since IVA, or value-added tax was reduced on them from 21% to the minimum of 4% and public pressure led to a price drop in addition to this, a pack of 10 now typically costs around €1.50 in most stores.
Lidl comes out top for its disposable masks – sold under the Chinese brand Jiangsu Excellense, they carry the kitemark EN 14683, which is one to look out for when shopping for masks elsewhere.
These are type II surgical masks with a 99% filtration capacity – meaning only a 1% chance of harmful spores or particles reaching or being emitted by the wearer – and they rate highly because the elastic ear-loops are very strong and will not suddenly break when a person is away from home and does not have a spare one to use.
This said, their 'breathability' level is not as great as in hygiene masks, which may make them less comfortable for people with asthma, COPD or other, similar conditions.
Día masks are also EN 14683-certified, with excellent 'breathability', although the filtration level is slightly lower, at 98%.
These, branded as Mask4U, come third on the OCU's list.
Mercadona 10-pack disposable masks, by the house brand Deliplus – already know for its high quality in terms of cosmetics, which are frequently made according to similar or even identical recipes as much more expensive, branded versions – carry the kitemark UNE 0064, which is another one to check for whenever buying masks elsewhere.
Both the EN 14683 and UN 0064 are Chinese certifications, but have been signed off by the European Union as meeting the bloc's own quality standards for sale in member States.
Mercadona's masks, like those at Lidl, have a 99% filtration capacity, which is the highest that can be guaranteed with any type of cloth-based face-covering; their 'breathability' is classified as 'very good' – although not 'excellent' like those at Lidl – although they lose points because of their elastic ear-loops, which have a tendency to snap off under stress, such as when knotting or twisting to make them fit better where they are too large.
All three types have a rigid top which can be 'moulded' to fit the bridge of the nose and avoid gaps through which particles can escape.
Related Topics
ONE of Spain's leading consumer organisations has rated the best disposable masks currently on sale in supermarkets and revealed some of the international kitemarks to look out for.
For 'ordinary' members of the public going about their day, hygiene masks are normally considered sufficient, since their aim is to prevent the wearer from infecting anyone else more than protecting the wearer him- or herself.
Rules differ from country to country and when travelling, however: In Spain, it is compulsory to wear one at all times when outside the home, even in the open air, and also in one's own car if travelling with someone not in the same household, and there are no exceptions; those who have respiratory conditions that genuinely affect their ability to breathe whilst wearing a mask will be required to show a doctor's note to prove this, although masks are not compulsory when carrying out strenuous exercise.
In the UK, masks are only mandatory inside public buildings such as shops, and on public transport, but not in the street or in a car with another person, and people with respiratory conditions are exempt from wearing them wherever they may be, without the need to prove this if challenged.
In Italy, including on flights travelling into the country, everyone has to wear surgical masks; hygiene masks, of the type worn in 'normal' times by people with a cold when they are around babies, the elderly or immune-compromised, are not enough.
Health workers and carers wear FFP2 and FFP3 masks, a much higher level of protection; although these are ideal if you can find them, masks for everyday errands do not have to be of this calibre in Spain.
Plastic face shields are considered a suitable substitute in Spain, but in the UK, these must be worn with a mask underneath and merely provide extra, not alternative, protection.
Masks for sale in Spanish supermarkets are generally very similar and their kitemarks and properties will be detailed on them, as well as, in the case of reusable ones, how many washes they can take and still provide enough protection against the wearer's infecting someone else if they are Covid-positive but do not realise it.
Consumer organisation OCU found that the best three disposable versions in Spanish grocery stores at the moment were the ones sold in Día, Mercadona and Lidl.
The information published is now a few weeks old – the OCU gives their prices at around €6 for a packet of 10, but since IVA, or value-added tax was reduced on them from 21% to the minimum of 4% and public pressure led to a price drop in addition to this, a pack of 10 now typically costs around €1.50 in most stores.
Lidl comes out top for its disposable masks – sold under the Chinese brand Jiangsu Excellense, they carry the kitemark EN 14683, which is one to look out for when shopping for masks elsewhere.
These are type II surgical masks with a 99% filtration capacity – meaning only a 1% chance of harmful spores or particles reaching or being emitted by the wearer – and they rate highly because the elastic ear-loops are very strong and will not suddenly break when a person is away from home and does not have a spare one to use.
This said, their 'breathability' level is not as great as in hygiene masks, which may make them less comfortable for people with asthma, COPD or other, similar conditions.
Día masks are also EN 14683-certified, with excellent 'breathability', although the filtration level is slightly lower, at 98%.
These, branded as Mask4U, come third on the OCU's list.
Mercadona 10-pack disposable masks, by the house brand Deliplus – already know for its high quality in terms of cosmetics, which are frequently made according to similar or even identical recipes as much more expensive, branded versions – carry the kitemark UNE 0064, which is another one to check for whenever buying masks elsewhere.
Both the EN 14683 and UN 0064 are Chinese certifications, but have been signed off by the European Union as meeting the bloc's own quality standards for sale in member States.
Mercadona's masks, like those at Lidl, have a 99% filtration capacity, which is the highest that can be guaranteed with any type of cloth-based face-covering; their 'breathability' is classified as 'very good' – although not 'excellent' like those at Lidl – although they lose points because of their elastic ear-loops, which have a tendency to snap off under stress, such as when knotting or twisting to make them fit better where they are too large.
All three types have a rigid top which can be 'moulded' to fit the bridge of the nose and avoid gaps through which particles can escape.
Related Topics
More News & Information
Spain is now home to more inhabitants than ever before. Census data published this week by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), puts the number of people registered as resident in Spain on January 1st 2022 at 47...
RESIDENTS in Spain can breathe a huge sigh of relief this weekend – electricity costs will drop from Saturday to their lowest since June 2021.
EVERY town council in Spain has been instructed to draw up an energy-saving plan by December 1 – and, although restrictions on Christmas lights have not been enforced, some have already announced a late-night switch...