Mincing words: Woolworths shopper's weighty concern sparks debate over packaging accuracy
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In a recent development that has left many consumers questioning the accuracy of supermarket packaging, a Woolworths shopper from Victoria has raised an urgent alarm over a pack of beef mince.
The customer's discovery has sparked a conversation about the trust we place in food labelling and the importance of vigilance when it comes to our grocery purchases.
The shopper, who was preparing to cook with the mince using their Thermomix, a popular kitchen appliance, decided to weigh the Woolworths Beef Mince 1kg ($11) on the Thermomix scales.
To their dismay, the scales revealed that the pack weighed a mere 784g—a significant 216g less than the 1kg advertised on the packaging.
The customer took to social media to share their frustration, posting a photograph of the mince on the scales with the caption, ‘Woolworths, is there a different kind of kilogram that I don’t know about? Or is a 20 per cent gain on your behalf “within tolerance”?’
The shopper mentioned that they couldn't return the item to the store because ‘it was needed for dinner last night (and it’s a 35km trip in, and then again back out)’ but requested a credit to their Everyday Rewards account.
They added, ‘Also, when was the last time an AQS Test/Audit was completed? And what were the results?’
It's important to note that Australian supermarkets, including Woolworths, are subject to stringent checks to ensure that meat and other items are accurately weighed.
These checks are in place to protect consumers and maintain trust in the products sold.
The National Measurement Institute, the Federal Government’s trade measurement regulator, regularly inspects pre-packed items to ensure compliance with trade measurement laws.
In response to the incident, a Woolworths spokesperson stated that the supermarket is eager to investigate further.
‘We’ve asked the customer for further information so we can look into the claim,’ they stated.
‘All of our pre-packed meat products are checked for their weight on scales that have been certified for trade use.’
‘If ever our customers are concerned about the weight of a product, we’d encourage them to return it to our store. This not only allows us to issue a refund, but also helps to ensure we have the product details we need to investigate further,’ the spokesperson continued.
The pack of mince in question featured an ‘e’ symbol on the label, which stands for ‘'estimate’.
This symbol is used on thousands of pre-packed products across supermarkets and indicates that there may be a slight variance in weight.
The ‘e’ symbol is part of the Average Quantity System, an internationally recognised method for determining the quantity of pre-packed products.
However, this system still requires that the average weight of products in a batch must meet or exceed the weight stated on the label.
As supermarket shoppers navigate potential pitfalls in product quality and pricing, recent incidents have raised concerns about the integrity of purchased items.
Consumers are increasingly vigilant about their purchases, from surprises found in packaged goods to suspicions of overcharging.
Just last year, Woolworths shoppers were urged to check their mince packs after a concerning discovery, adding to the growing list of shopper warnings circulating in the community.
This incident underscores the importance of remaining vigilant while shopping and advocating for transparency and fairness in retail practices.
Have you ever experienced something similar with your grocery purchases? How did you handle the situation? Share your stories with us in the comments below.
The customer's discovery has sparked a conversation about the trust we place in food labelling and the importance of vigilance when it comes to our grocery purchases.
The shopper, who was preparing to cook with the mince using their Thermomix, a popular kitchen appliance, decided to weigh the Woolworths Beef Mince 1kg ($11) on the Thermomix scales.
To their dismay, the scales revealed that the pack weighed a mere 784g—a significant 216g less than the 1kg advertised on the packaging.
A Woolworths customer found that their 1kg pack of beef mince weighed only 784g, well below the labelled weight. Credits: X
The customer took to social media to share their frustration, posting a photograph of the mince on the scales with the caption, ‘Woolworths, is there a different kind of kilogram that I don’t know about? Or is a 20 per cent gain on your behalf “within tolerance”?’
The shopper mentioned that they couldn't return the item to the store because ‘it was needed for dinner last night (and it’s a 35km trip in, and then again back out)’ but requested a credit to their Everyday Rewards account.
They added, ‘Also, when was the last time an AQS Test/Audit was completed? And what were the results?’
It's important to note that Australian supermarkets, including Woolworths, are subject to stringent checks to ensure that meat and other items are accurately weighed.
These checks are in place to protect consumers and maintain trust in the products sold.
The National Measurement Institute, the Federal Government’s trade measurement regulator, regularly inspects pre-packed items to ensure compliance with trade measurement laws.
In response to the incident, a Woolworths spokesperson stated that the supermarket is eager to investigate further.
‘We’ve asked the customer for further information so we can look into the claim,’ they stated.
‘All of our pre-packed meat products are checked for their weight on scales that have been certified for trade use.’
‘If ever our customers are concerned about the weight of a product, we’d encourage them to return it to our store. This not only allows us to issue a refund, but also helps to ensure we have the product details we need to investigate further,’ the spokesperson continued.
The pack of mince in question featured an ‘e’ symbol on the label, which stands for ‘'estimate’.
This symbol is used on thousands of pre-packed products across supermarkets and indicates that there may be a slight variance in weight.
The ‘e’ symbol is part of the Average Quantity System, an internationally recognised method for determining the quantity of pre-packed products.
However, this system still requires that the average weight of products in a batch must meet or exceed the weight stated on the label.
As supermarket shoppers navigate potential pitfalls in product quality and pricing, recent incidents have raised concerns about the integrity of purchased items.
Consumers are increasingly vigilant about their purchases, from surprises found in packaged goods to suspicions of overcharging.
Just last year, Woolworths shoppers were urged to check their mince packs after a concerning discovery, adding to the growing list of shopper warnings circulating in the community.
This incident underscores the importance of remaining vigilant while shopping and advocating for transparency and fairness in retail practices.
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