Outrage sparks over Woolworths meat display: ‘I will never go back’
When dropping into Woolworths for some grocery shopping, many are on the lookout for a good deal.
However, one NSW shopper recently stumbled upon a detail that left them ‘dry retching’, sparking an intense debate.
The shopper was surprised to find an ‘unhygienic’ display at their local Woolworths: they found chilled pet food next to meat for human consumption in the store.
This led the shopper to voice their dismay on social media.
In a photograph shared by the Woolies shopper, it showed that three shelves of pet products were placed next to the store’s pork range, which included roasts and ham.
In the post, the shopper said they would not return to that particular Woolworths in the future.
‘Since when is Woolworths Bonnyrigg—or any supermarket—allowed to put animal meat next to the meat we eat?’ they wrote on social media.
‘This is so just dry retching, unhygienic. I will never go back. I just can’t.’
One user agreed, adding: ‘That’s disgusting.’
However, while the discovery left some people stunned, it appears that others remained unfazed.
Many saw no issue with placing pet food and human meat together in the same display.
‘It’s all wrapped/sealed, so it can’t get contaminated,’ one said. ‘Butchers have dog bones, mince in the same section as other meat. There’s no issue.’
Another added: ‘It is the same as people who buy this for their pet and keep it home in their own fridge. It’s securely packaged, so it’s not that bad.’
A third wrote: ‘Meat all comes from the same place. Some parts are for human consumption, some for pets, the rest goes to use in other products.’
One more responded: ‘I am sure you can eat either, it won’t kill you.’
Another said: ‘It’s no big deal as far as I’m concerned.’
Meanwhile, the shopper who posted the photo insisted that they were right. ‘You’re missing the point—-it’s unhygienic and not allowed,’ they wrote.
Responding to one critic’s claim that pet food can be eaten by humans, they added: ‘It’s dead animals and carcasses—if you are a cannibal maybe. It’s made up of so many parasitic leftover parts of the animal.’
It is understood that most Woolworths stores have a dedicated chilled pet food section within the pet food aisle, separate from human food.
It is also believed that only a few stores, like Woolworths Bonnyrigg, combine chilled pet food and human food due to space limitations.
Chilled pet food is clearly labelled as ‘Pet food only’ or ‘Not for human consumption’ in stores.
It is also understood that Woolworths' in-store teams regularly check and organise products to prevent any mix-ups and ensure customer satisfaction.
All pet food and human meat in these chilled areas are securely wrapped, minimising the risk of cross-contamination.
Members, please share your thoughts in the comments: Should the pet food section be separate from the human consumption meat section?
However, one NSW shopper recently stumbled upon a detail that left them ‘dry retching’, sparking an intense debate.
The shopper was surprised to find an ‘unhygienic’ display at their local Woolworths: they found chilled pet food next to meat for human consumption in the store.
This led the shopper to voice their dismay on social media.
In a photograph shared by the Woolies shopper, it showed that three shelves of pet products were placed next to the store’s pork range, which included roasts and ham.
In the post, the shopper said they would not return to that particular Woolworths in the future.
‘Since when is Woolworths Bonnyrigg—or any supermarket—allowed to put animal meat next to the meat we eat?’ they wrote on social media.
‘This is so just dry retching, unhygienic. I will never go back. I just can’t.’
One user agreed, adding: ‘That’s disgusting.’
However, while the discovery left some people stunned, it appears that others remained unfazed.
Many saw no issue with placing pet food and human meat together in the same display.
‘It’s all wrapped/sealed, so it can’t get contaminated,’ one said. ‘Butchers have dog bones, mince in the same section as other meat. There’s no issue.’
Another added: ‘It is the same as people who buy this for their pet and keep it home in their own fridge. It’s securely packaged, so it’s not that bad.’
A third wrote: ‘Meat all comes from the same place. Some parts are for human consumption, some for pets, the rest goes to use in other products.’
One more responded: ‘I am sure you can eat either, it won’t kill you.’
Another said: ‘It’s no big deal as far as I’m concerned.’
Meanwhile, the shopper who posted the photo insisted that they were right. ‘You’re missing the point—-it’s unhygienic and not allowed,’ they wrote.
Responding to one critic’s claim that pet food can be eaten by humans, they added: ‘It’s dead animals and carcasses—if you are a cannibal maybe. It’s made up of so many parasitic leftover parts of the animal.’
It is understood that most Woolworths stores have a dedicated chilled pet food section within the pet food aisle, separate from human food.
It is also believed that only a few stores, like Woolworths Bonnyrigg, combine chilled pet food and human food due to space limitations.
Chilled pet food is clearly labelled as ‘Pet food only’ or ‘Not for human consumption’ in stores.
It is also understood that Woolworths' in-store teams regularly check and organise products to prevent any mix-ups and ensure customer satisfaction.
All pet food and human meat in these chilled areas are securely wrapped, minimising the risk of cross-contamination.
Key Takeaways
- A Woolworths shopper stirred a debate after finding pet food and meat for human consumption placed in the same refrigerated display.
- Some voiced concerns over hygiene, while others defended the practice, stating the products were sealed to prevent cross-contamination.
- The original poster insisted the arrangement was unhygienic and not acceptable.
- Most Woolworths stores have a separate chilled pet food section, but due to space and store configurations, some stores have a shared refrigerated area. The products are clearly labelled separately, and all food items are tightly sealed to avoid cross-contamination.