Shopper calls out Coles for 'unhygienic' find in the supermarket

We here at the SDC are big fans of Coles supermarkets; not only do they offer some of the best weekly specials and discounts around, but their food is usually fresh and tasty as well.

That's why we were so disappointed to hear about one customer's recent experience at a Coles store in Sydney, where he claimed to have found evidence of something 'disgusting' throughout the premises – pigeon droppings.



The man snapped photos of birds in the rafters and what appeared to be droppings on top of a meat counter at Coles Top Ryde, Sydney, on Sunday. He also said that multiple pigeons sat above the bakery in the store.

Calling the situation 'unhygienic', he shared his images on the supermarket's official Facebook page and begged for something to be done about it.

FqLUnnAPDjtrjt75rGOyf8KTW_NojRlSae3NEEqzp4-gBeicyolnlMuqudAmYpAXJffwTAxtDxrz6k3z59p4KsBP-Kt7119Gt5nlm2CG6wYsrJKYZWz6MEUhC_7Gi_qk1KfLWJZ-7rucyps0TsylNh-ZPfR-F2aEl46Vn8nBJf8zKDCFlphxq0k35w

A shopper found bird droppings on the top of the meat counter at his local Coles. Credit: Facebook.

'Coles, please take care of the in-store pigeons in the Top Ryde store,' he wrote in his post on social media. 'It is most unhygienic, particularly with all the droppings on the meat cabinets and on aircon vents above the bakery.'

Later on, in an interview with an online news outlet, the man mentioned that this had been an ongoing problem at the particular Coles store for some time now, saying that there were at least three pigeons regularly inside.



In response to the allegations, a Coles spokesperson said that they were aware of the problem and were working to address it as soon as possible.

'Coles has an integrated pest management system, which primarily focuses on keeping pests out of our stores then controlling pests should they find their way into our stores,' said a store representative.

'We were concerned to see these images and have reached out to the store so we can address the issue.'

rIaRpclFN7LQ7zSVgWirSY-_yXJnEfb2bczm87Q0sUa7Gwa2HU4GMjgkBo9657z_Uv1TmBXnI_QoB092u87CR38xKbkT3_I4bJZWNiu2uaiLTHiaeApB_-O2y6Gmj747nVwMs8LgpWrobGN5UMa3PzqUz-BEk2sNWEhFOUFkcS54cf8KNnb5soywTg

Bird poop is not just an eyesore; it can also be dangerous to your health. Credit: Facebook.

Even though pigeons aren't dangerous in and of themselves, few of us would be comfortable interacting with them in public, let alone in a market where we buy fresh food products.

No one really expects to see bird droppings on the shelves, especially on the meat cabinets, so it's only fair that the store managers are held responsible for keeping the area clean and safe.



Members, if you find yourself in a similar situation, whether in Coles or in any other supermarkets, please notify the management right away so that immediate action can be taken! These bird droppings pose a huge health risk, so it's best to stay away from them.

What are your thoughts about this, folks? Are there any other 'unhygienic' grocery finds that shoppers need to be more aware of? Let us know in the comments!
 
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We have always seen birds flying around in the food court at Roselands centro
My daughter has started working weekends in the food court and said it's a huge problem.

Management knows about this but nothing is done.

A concern is the birds poo but also birds can carry lice
 
Pigeons have always been known as "flying rats". Lice, faeces and other contaminations are certainly unhygienic and unlawful under food and OH&S regulations.
 
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We here at the SDC are big fans of Coles supermarkets; not only do they offer some of the best weekly specials and discounts around, but their food is usually fresh and tasty as well.

That's why we were so disappointed to hear about one customer's recent experience at a Coles store in Sydney, where he claimed to have found evidence of something 'disgusting' throughout the premises – pigeon droppings.



The man snapped photos of birds in the rafters and what appeared to be droppings on top of a meat counter at Coles Top Ryde, Sydney, on Sunday. He also said that multiple pigeons sat above the bakery in the store.

Calling the situation 'unhygienic', he shared his images on the supermarket's official Facebook page and begged for something to be done about it.

FqLUnnAPDjtrjt75rGOyf8KTW_NojRlSae3NEEqzp4-gBeicyolnlMuqudAmYpAXJffwTAxtDxrz6k3z59p4KsBP-Kt7119Gt5nlm2CG6wYsrJKYZWz6MEUhC_7Gi_qk1KfLWJZ-7rucyps0TsylNh-ZPfR-F2aEl46Vn8nBJf8zKDCFlphxq0k35w

A shopper found bird droppings on the top of the meat counter at his local Coles. Credit: Facebook.

'Coles, please take care of the in-store pigeons in the Top Ryde store,' he wrote in his post on social media. 'It is most unhygienic, particularly with all the droppings on the meat cabinets and on aircon vents above the bakery.'

Later on, in an interview with an online news outlet, the man mentioned that this had been an ongoing problem at the particular Coles store for some time now, saying that there were at least three pigeons regularly inside.



In response to the allegations, a Coles spokesperson said that they were aware of the problem and were working to address it as soon as possible.

'Coles has an integrated pest management system, which primarily focuses on keeping pests out of our stores then controlling pests should they find their way into our stores,' said a store representative.

'We were concerned to see these images and have reached out to the store so we can address the issue.'

rIaRpclFN7LQ7zSVgWirSY-_yXJnEfb2bczm87Q0sUa7Gwa2HU4GMjgkBo9657z_Uv1TmBXnI_QoB092u87CR38xKbkT3_I4bJZWNiu2uaiLTHiaeApB_-O2y6Gmj747nVwMs8LgpWrobGN5UMa3PzqUz-BEk2sNWEhFOUFkcS54cf8KNnb5soywTg

Bird poop is not just an eyesore; it can also be dangerous to your health. Credit: Facebook.

Even though pigeons aren't dangerous in and of themselves, few of us would be comfortable interacting with them in public, let alone in a market where we buy fresh food products.

No one really expects to see bird droppings on the shelves, especially on the meat cabinets, so it's only fair that the store managers are held responsible for keeping the area clean and safe.



Members, if you find yourself in a similar situation, whether in Coles or in any other supermarkets, please notify the management right away so that immediate action can be taken! These bird droppings pose a huge health risk, so it's best to stay away from them.

What are your thoughts about this, folks? Are there any other 'unhygienic' grocery finds that shoppers need to be more aware of? Let us know in the comments!
That is fkn disgusting. They shouldn't need a member of the public to protest before doing something. Perhaps they're for mini roast chooks?
 
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How do the pigeons get into the Woolies store? There has to be an entry somewhere & why aren't those pipes they are sitting on inside a ceiling? Is this a very old store built under different building laws? What are OH&S doing to address any of these problems? So many questions but no answers!

Not a store l would wish to shop at & if this is a Food Court l'd be doubly concerned about getting sick. Not all contamination is by direct contact as we know; it can be air borne. This can be a breeze or birds flapping wings such as flying.
 
We have always seen birds flying around in the food court at Roselands centro
My daughter has started working weekends in the food court and said it's a huge problem.

Management knows about this but nothing is done.

A concern is the birds poo but also birds can carry lice
I guess the next question is, what other critters do they have. Don't they have health inspectors anymore? It is potentially harmful to everyone's health. Don't just go blaming it on the "Wuhan".
 
We here at the SDC are big fans of Coles supermarkets; not only do they offer some of the best weekly specials and discounts around, but their food is usually fresh and tasty as well.

That's why we were so disappointed to hear about one customer's recent experience at a Coles store in Sydney, where he claimed to have found evidence of something 'disgusting' throughout the premises – pigeon droppings.



The man snapped photos of birds in the rafters and what appeared to be droppings on top of a meat counter at Coles Top Ryde, Sydney, on Sunday. He also said that multiple pigeons sat above the bakery in the store.

Calling the situation 'unhygienic', he shared his images on the supermarket's official Facebook page and begged for something to be done about it.

FqLUnnAPDjtrjt75rGOyf8KTW_NojRlSae3NEEqzp4-gBeicyolnlMuqudAmYpAXJffwTAxtDxrz6k3z59p4KsBP-Kt7119Gt5nlm2CG6wYsrJKYZWz6MEUhC_7Gi_qk1KfLWJZ-7rucyps0TsylNh-ZPfR-F2aEl46Vn8nBJf8zKDCFlphxq0k35w

A shopper found bird droppings on the top of the meat counter at his local Coles. Credit: Facebook.

'Coles, please take care of the in-store pigeons in the Top Ryde store,' he wrote in his post on social media. 'It is most unhygienic, particularly with all the droppings on the meat cabinets and on aircon vents above the bakery.'

Later on, in an interview with an online news outlet, the man mentioned that this had been an ongoing problem at the particular Coles store for some time now, saying that there were at least three pigeons regularly inside.



In response to the allegations, a Coles spokesperson said that they were aware of the problem and were working to address it as soon as possible.

'Coles has an integrated pest management system, which primarily focuses on keeping pests out of our stores then controlling pests should they find their way into our stores,' said a store representative.

'We were concerned to see these images and have reached out to the store so we can address the issue.'

rIaRpclFN7LQ7zSVgWirSY-_yXJnEfb2bczm87Q0sUa7Gwa2HU4GMjgkBo9657z_Uv1TmBXnI_QoB092u87CR38xKbkT3_I4bJZWNiu2uaiLTHiaeApB_-O2y6Gmj747nVwMs8LgpWrobGN5UMa3PzqUz-BEk2sNWEhFOUFkcS54cf8KNnb5soywTg

Bird poop is not just an eyesore; it can also be dangerous to your health. Credit: Facebook.

Even though pigeons aren't dangerous in and of themselves, few of us would be comfortable interacting with them in public, let alone in a market where we buy fresh food products.

No one really expects to see bird droppings on the shelves, especially on the meat cabinets, so it's only fair that the store managers are held responsible for keeping the area clean and safe.



Members, if you find yourself in a similar situation, whether in Coles or in any other supermarkets, please notify the management right away so that immediate action can be taken! These bird droppings pose a huge health risk, so it's best to stay away from them.

What are your thoughts about this, folks? Are there any other 'unhygienic' grocery finds that shoppers need to be more aware of? Let us know in the comments!
I’ve been increasingly irritated by these pseudo terrifying discoveries made by people who are reported on this site.
Pigeons, and their droppings are not ideal in a food store, and a humane way of catching and relocating them, and preventing future ingress by other birds.
In fact you go from saying in one breath that pigeons are not in and of themselves dangerous, to describing the situation as
We here at the SDC are big fans of Coles supermarkets; not only do they offer some of the best weekly specials and discounts around, but their food is usually fresh and tasty as well.

That's why we were so disappointed to hear about one customer's recent experience at a Coles store in Sydney, where he claimed to have found evidence of something 'disgusting' throughout the premises – pigeon droppings.



The man snapped photos of birds in the rafters and what appeared to be droppings on top of a meat counter at Coles Top Ryde, Sydney, on Sunday. He also said that multiple pigeons sat above the bakery in the store.

Calling the situation 'unhygienic', he shared his images on the supermarket's official Facebook page and begged for something to be done about it.

FqLUnnAPDjtrjt75rGOyf8KTW_NojRlSae3NEEqzp4-gBeicyolnlMuqudAmYpAXJffwTAxtDxrz6k3z59p4KsBP-Kt7119Gt5nlm2CG6wYsrJKYZWz6MEUhC_7Gi_qk1KfLWJZ-7rucyps0TsylNh-ZPfR-F2aEl46Vn8nBJf8zKDCFlphxq0k35w

A shopper found bird droppings on the top of the meat counter at his local Coles. Credit: Facebook.

'Coles, please take care of the in-store pigeons in the Top Ryde store,' he wrote in his post on social media. 'It is most unhygienic, particularly with all the droppings on the meat cabinets and on aircon vents above the bakery.'

Later on, in an interview with an online news outlet, the man mentioned that this had been an ongoing problem at the particular Coles store for some time now, saying that there were at least three pigeons regularly inside.



In response to the allegations, a Coles spokesperson said that they were aware of the problem and were working to address it as soon as possible.

'Coles has an integrated pest management system, which primarily focuses on keeping pests out of our stores then controlling pests should they find their way into our stores,' said a store representative.

'We were concerned to see these images and have reached out to the store so we can address the issue.'

rIaRpclFN7LQ7zSVgWirSY-_yXJnEfb2bczm87Q0sUa7Gwa2HU4GMjgkBo9657z_Uv1TmBXnI_QoB092u87CR38xKbkT3_I4bJZWNiu2uaiLTHiaeApB_-O2y6Gmj747nVwMs8LgpWrobGN5UMa3PzqUz-BEk2sNWEhFOUFkcS54cf8KNnb5soywTg

Bird poop is not just an eyesore; it can also be dangerous to your health. Credit: Facebook.

Even though pigeons aren't dangerous in and of themselves, few of us would be comfortable interacting with them in public, let alone in a market where we buy fresh food products.

No one really expects to see bird droppings on the shelves, especially on the meat cabinets, so it's only fair that the store managers are held responsible for keeping the area clean and safe.



Members, if you find yourself in a similar situation, whether in Coles or in any other supermarkets, please notify the management right away so that immediate action can be taken! These bird droppings pose a huge health risk, so it's best to stay away from them.

What are your thoughts about this, folks? Are there any other 'unhygienic' grocery finds that shoppers need to be more aware of? Let us know in the comments!
to
 
I’ve been increasingly irritated by these pseudo terrifying discoveries made by people who are reported on this site.
Pigeons, and their droppings are not ideal in a food store, and a humane way of catching and relocating them, and preventing future ingress by other birds.
In fact you go from saying in one breath that pigeons are not in and of themselves dangerous, to describing the situation as a major health risk, and disgusting.
There is absolutely no evidence of this claim, and it is far from accurate.
It’s a pity that a page which could offer useful info to its readership, but which seems to prefer over egged horror stories.
It’s probably time I went elsewhere.
 
I can remember an article where a Woolies store was concerned re pigeon droppings etc. but it was due to the design of the entry to the shopping centre which allowed the birds to roost and breed - maybe they have a similar problem here, therefore not making the supermarket at fault but the shopping centre design??!!!!!
 
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How do the pigeons get into the Woolies store? There has to be an entry somewhere & why aren't those pipes they are sitting on inside a ceiling? Is this a very old store built under different building laws? What are OH&S doing to address any of these problems? So many questions but no answers!

Not a store l would wish to shop at & if this is a Food Court l'd be doubly concerned about getting sick. Not all contamination is by direct contact as we know; it can be air borne. This can be a breeze or birds flapping wings such

I can remember an article where a Woolies store was concerned re pigeon droppings etc. but it was due to the design of the entry to the shopping centre which allowed the birds to roost and breed - maybe they have a similar problem here, therefore not making the supermarket at fault but the shopping centre design??!!!!!
They are still responsible, whether design fault or not.
 
Yeah...it would not be very hygienic to have bird or rat or mouse or possum, etc...droppings in and around fresh foods....of course where there's food, there's animals trying to eat it, but as soon as discovered, the store owners need to be getting the pest-control in to clear them out!!
 
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