‘Don't get ripped off’: Shopper’s discovery at Woolies sparks investigation
- Replies 0
When it comes to supermarket shopping, especially for those pricier pantry staples, we all want to be sure we’re getting every gram we pay for—after all, every dollar counts!
Recently, a Queensland shopper’s eagle-eyed investigation into a popular Woolworths product sparked a flurry of questions, confusion, and even a supermarket investigation.
So, what really happened, and should you be double-checking your own shopping basket? Let’s dig in.
It all started when Ben, a savvy shopper from Queensland, decided to put Woolworths’ 180g containers of roasted and salted cashews to the test.
With cashews costing more than $40 per kilo, it’s no wonder he wanted to make sure he was getting his money’s worth. ‘You want to make sure you get what you pay for,’ Ben said.
Ben took three identical-looking packs to the produce section’s scales and weighed them, only to find each one came in at a different weight. Shockingly, one pack was almost 20% lighter than the heaviest!
This discrepancy led to Woolworths investigating the issue, especially as Ben’s findings quickly made the rounds on social media.
His video posted on social media is racking up views and sparking debate. Was Woolworths short-changing its customers? Or was there more to the story?
As it turns out, the plot thickened when eagle-eyed viewers noticed something odd in Ben’s video: the scale he used wasn’t properly zeroed.
The display showed a negative 35g before anything was even placed on it! This means the actual weights of the cashew packs were likely between 180g and 215g—well above the advertised weight once you factor in the packaging.
To get to the bottom of things, both Woolworths and their supplier conducted their own checks.
Yahoo News even ran an experiment, weighing six packets of the same cashews on a properly calibrated scale in-store. The result? All six packs weighed between 200g and 210g, comfortably above the 180g label.
If you’ve ever noticed a little ‘e’ next to the weight on packaged goods, you’re not alone. This symbol stands for 'estimated' and is part of the Average Quantity System (AQS) used in Australia and many other countries.
Source: @ben_jones582 / Tiktok.
The AQS allows for minor fluctuations in weight, as long as the average across a batch meets the stated amount.
For products between 100g and 200g—like those cashews—the law allows a tolerance of 4.5%. That means a 180g pack can legally vary by up to 8.1g either way.
So, while a few grams’ difference is normal, a 35g shortfall would definitely be a problem. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case here.
Woolworths took the claims seriously, launching an investigation with their supplier. Their spokesperson reassured customers: ‘All of our products are expected to meet their weight standard, and we and our suppliers have relevant checks in place on this front.’
After thorough checks, both in-store and with their supply partner, Woolworths confirmed that the cashew packs consistently met the required standards.
They also pointed out the importance of using properly calibrated scales when checking product weights. If you ever have concerns, Woolworths encourages you to bring the item to the Service Desk in-store, where staff can check the product and batch details for you.
Read more: What’s wrong with this ice cream? One photo has sparked a classic Aussie debate
Have you ever weighed your groceries and found a surprise? Do you trust the ‘e’ mark on your favourite products? We’d love to hear your stories, tips, or even your own supermarket mysteries! Share your experiences in the comments below!
Recently, a Queensland shopper’s eagle-eyed investigation into a popular Woolworths product sparked a flurry of questions, confusion, and even a supermarket investigation.
So, what really happened, and should you be double-checking your own shopping basket? Let’s dig in.
It all started when Ben, a savvy shopper from Queensland, decided to put Woolworths’ 180g containers of roasted and salted cashews to the test.
With cashews costing more than $40 per kilo, it’s no wonder he wanted to make sure he was getting his money’s worth. ‘You want to make sure you get what you pay for,’ Ben said.
Ben took three identical-looking packs to the produce section’s scales and weighed them, only to find each one came in at a different weight. Shockingly, one pack was almost 20% lighter than the heaviest!
This discrepancy led to Woolworths investigating the issue, especially as Ben’s findings quickly made the rounds on social media.
A Woolworths shopper questioned the accuracy of the weight on 180g cashew packs, after claiming to find significant discrepancies when weighing them on an in-store scale. Image source: @ben_jones582 / Tiktok.
His video posted on social media is racking up views and sparking debate. Was Woolworths short-changing its customers? Or was there more to the story?
As it turns out, the plot thickened when eagle-eyed viewers noticed something odd in Ben’s video: the scale he used wasn’t properly zeroed.
The display showed a negative 35g before anything was even placed on it! This means the actual weights of the cashew packs were likely between 180g and 215g—well above the advertised weight once you factor in the packaging.
To get to the bottom of things, both Woolworths and their supplier conducted their own checks.
Yahoo News even ran an experiment, weighing six packets of the same cashews on a properly calibrated scale in-store. The result? All six packs weighed between 200g and 210g, comfortably above the 180g label.
If you’ve ever noticed a little ‘e’ next to the weight on packaged goods, you’re not alone. This symbol stands for 'estimated' and is part of the Average Quantity System (AQS) used in Australia and many other countries.
Source: @ben_jones582 / Tiktok.
The AQS allows for minor fluctuations in weight, as long as the average across a batch meets the stated amount.
For products between 100g and 200g—like those cashews—the law allows a tolerance of 4.5%. That means a 180g pack can legally vary by up to 8.1g either way.
So, while a few grams’ difference is normal, a 35g shortfall would definitely be a problem. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case here.
Woolworths took the claims seriously, launching an investigation with their supplier. Their spokesperson reassured customers: ‘All of our products are expected to meet their weight standard, and we and our suppliers have relevant checks in place on this front.’
After thorough checks, both in-store and with their supply partner, Woolworths confirmed that the cashew packs consistently met the required standards.
They also pointed out the importance of using properly calibrated scales when checking product weights. If you ever have concerns, Woolworths encourages you to bring the item to the Service Desk in-store, where staff can check the product and batch details for you.
Read more: What’s wrong with this ice cream? One photo has sparked a classic Aussie debate
Have you ever weighed your groceries and found a surprise? Do you trust the ‘e’ mark on your favourite products? We’d love to hear your stories, tips, or even your own supermarket mysteries! Share your experiences in the comments below!
