As we navigate the aisles of our local supermarkets, we expect a certain level of cleanliness and order.

It's part of the shopping experience we've come to know and enjoy.

However, a recent and rather unsavoury trend has been causing quite a stir among customers at famous supermarket giants.

Imagine this: you're on your weekly grocery run, list in hand, ready to tick off the items individually.

You turn into the egg aisle, expecting to face the now-familiar disappointment of limited stock due to ongoing shortages.

Broken eggs left on Coles, Woolworths, and ALDI shelves have sparked shoppers' anger. Credit: Unsplash

Instead, you're met with a scene straight out of a food fight—broken eggs, yolks smeared across the shelves, and empty cartons discarded without a care.

One Woolworths shopper encountered this scenario, prompting them to share their disgust in a popular supermarket social media group.

The post quickly became a hotbed of similar grievances, with many echoing the sentiment that such behaviour is both entitled and selfish.

One commenter recounted confronting a fellow shopper over the mess, while others lamented the decline of common courtesy in public spaces.

But who's really to blame here? Is it the individual shoppers who, in a scramble to find uncracked eggs during a shortage, leave behind a trail of destruction?

Or should the supermarkets themselves be more vigilant in maintaining the cleanliness of their stores?

Some group members offered their theories and solutions. One suggested that shoppers mix eggs from different brands or batches to complete a carton.

At the same time, another proposed that stores should provide a designated container for broken eggs to prevent them from being left on the shelves.

The issue has drawn comparisons to the infamous #ToiletPaperGate of 2020, when Australians stockpiled toilet paper amidst the pandemic panic, leaving shelves bare and in chaos.

When faced with real or perceived scarcity, social norms can quickly disappear as people focus on their needs.

Consumer psychologist Adam Ferrier has pointed to 'social norming' as a potential culprit.

The actions of those around us influence us, and if we see others leaving a mess, we might feel it's acceptable to do the same.

In times of shortage, this behaviour could be an attempt to regain control in a situation where we feel powerless.

A spokesperson for Woolworths has expressed concern over the state of the shelves and assured that the incident does not reflect the usual condition of their stores.

They've reminded customers that staff should be notified of any broken eggs and that they have protocols in place to minimise breakages.

Coles and ALDI, when approached for comment, chose not to weigh in on the issue.

Key Takeaways

• Shoppers at Coles, Woolworths, and ALDI have been fuming over a gross trend where broken eggs are left on shelves.
• A Woolworths customer shared photos of filthy shelves with broken eggs and empty cartons, seeking opinions from a supermarket social media group.
• People's reactions varied from blaming irresponsible shoppers to suggesting that staff should be more proactive and stores should offer better solutions for dealing with broken eggs.
• Woolworth's spokesperson addressed the specific incident, stating that it has been cleaned up, and noted their rigorous supply chain protocols for handling eggs.

Have you encountered similar situations in your local supermarkets? How do you think stores and shoppers can work together to keep the shopping experience pleasant? Share your experiences and ideas in the comments below.

 

[rustycu]

My biggest gripe is how dirty the bottom of trollies are, They should take them to the dock area and clean them more often ! Also clean the check out belts more often spilt milk -blood off meat etc.

 

[drambuie69]

I always open and check the eggs for cracked ones, they are mostly present and I don't buy pre-cracked eggs, I crack my own. What I have noticed is the sizes of the eggs in the box. I like large eggs, 700/800grms. What I usually find is a size range that make about 6 of the eggs well below the size stated on the box. I had chickens when I was growing up, just about everyone had them back in the 50/60's, including ducks. I had a number of bantams however, they laid bigger eggs than some of the 700/800grm eggs I have come across. I mostly buy my eggs from the 'regular egg lady' at my local markets and am more than happy to pay a bit more for the tray of 15x800grm eggs and also get between 6/8 double yokers. You don't find them in any of the carton eggs in supermarkets. I remember the Victorian Egg Board back in the 80's had a massive excess of eggs produced, so as not to flood the market and reduce the price they dug a large trench on a piece of Gov. owned land and buried them. They were asked why they didn't donate them to Nursing homes, Hospitals, etc: their reply, 'they didn't want to cut the egg producers out of their markets'. What a great example of food waste..... Gov's always get it right.....lol

 

[Phantom55]

the policy is any eggs broken the whole carton goes in the bin....(the un broken as well). so much for economising

 

[Ebby]

My biggest gripe is how dirty the bottom of trollies are, They should take them to the dock area and clean them more often ! Also clean the check out belts more often spilt milk -blood off meat etc.

l don't like to see children sat in trolleys where you put your perishables. We usually put our goods in a box depends how much you buy

 

[Bezz]

Often the checkout belts are dirty where things have been spilt, the staff don’t bother to wipe them over.

 

[Jingdow]

There are ways of putting an end to this type of behaviour.
On a recent overseas trip, needed to pop in a supermarket for some supplies,
what was very interesting was, the shop and shelf’s were all clean and full.
Secondly, noticed well dressed official with identify tags patrolling the isles.
I’m sure that type of behaviour would not have been tolerated by the patrolling staff.
That’s the difference between having real staff on the floor rather than security cameras that prevent very little.

 

[margaretritchie48]

There are ways of putting an end to this type of behaviour.
On a recent overseas trip, needed to pop in a supermarket for some supplies,
what was very interesting was, the shop and shelf’s were all clean and full.
Secondly, noticed well dressed official with identify tags patrolling the isles.
I’m sure that type of behaviour would not have been tolerated by the patrolling staff.
That’s the difference between having real staff on the floor rather than security cameras that prevent very little.

agree at the supermarkets here in Perth all you get are the trolleys been filed by workers doing shopping for customers. At times you cannot get round the supermarket for them.

 

[Colette 3799]

I always open and check the eggs for cracked ones, they are mostly present and I don't buy pre-cracked eggs, I crack my own. What I have noticed is the sizes of the eggs in the box. I like large eggs, 700/800grms. What I usually find is a size range that make about 6 of the eggs well below the size stated on the box. I had chickens when I was growing up, just about everyone had them back in the 50/60's, including ducks. I had a number of bantams however, they laid bigger eggs than some of the 700/800grm eggs I have come across. I mostly buy my eggs from the 'regular egg lady' at my local markets and am more than happy to pay a bit more for the tray of 15x800grm eggs and also get between 6/8 double yokers. You don't find them in any of the carton eggs in supermarkets. I remember the Victorian Egg Board back in the 80's had a massive excess of eggs produced, so as not to flood the market and reduce the price they dug a large trench on a piece of Gov. owned land and buried them. They were asked why they didn't donate them to Nursing homes, Hospitals, etc: their reply, 'they didn't want to cut the egg producers out of their markets'. What a great example of food waste..... Gov's always get it right.....lol

I was sick of getting under sized eggs at the supermarket so now I buy from a small local farm that has rescue hens. Much better eggs and I’m supporting them to give the hens a better life