This tiny detail on Woolworths item has shoppers up in arms—Did you know about this?
By
Seia Ibanez
- Replies 13
In the bustling aisles of Woolworths and Coles, a small detail on a popular canned vegetable has sparked a wave of frustration among shoppers.
The product in question?
The Edgell Corn Kernels—a staple in many Australian pantries.
Edgell, a leading supplier, has long been a champion of local produce, sourcing its corn from Australian farmers.
This commitment to local sourcing has been proudly displayed on their cans with an 'Australian grown' label, accompanied by a map of Australia.
However, recent adverse growing conditions have disrupted the corn supply in Australia, forcing Edgell to source some of its produce from Thailand.
This change has resulted in two varieties of Edgell Corn Kernels on supermarket shelves across the country.
One carries the familiar 'Australian grown' badge, while the other, made with corn from Thailand, sports a 'Good for gut health' badge.
This seemingly minor detail has sparked an outcry from a Woolworths shopper who noticed the two different Edgell corn cans mixed together on a shelf.
The shopper vented their frustration on social media, expressing annoyance at both Woolworths and Edgell.
‘I don’t know who I’m more annoyed with, Woolworths (I’m sure the other supermarket [does] the same) or Edgell,’ the shopper said.
'I'm sick and tired of having to make sure I pick up the tins of Australian corn (the ones with the Australian flag are made in Australia, the others are not).’
‘Same price, almost same packaging—the only difference is the Australian flags with the made in Australia (easy to miss)—in the same box on the shelf,' the shopper added.
The sentiment was echoed by other customers who are committed to buying Australian-made products.
Many agreed that it was a frustrating situation, with one person noting, 'Takes a long time to do a shop now.'
Another added, 'Yes, you have to read nearly everything, and the writing can be so small.'
Yet another wrote, ‘In the same box, SHIFTY and INTENTIONAL.’
Another shopper added, ‘We think Edgell [is] certainly at fault! To us, what they’ve done is so deceitful.’
However, others said that Edgell had to source from other regions due to unforeseen circumstances.
‘This one AGAIN. Floods, droughts, [and] fires all impact our crops. We do what we can, if you can understand the weather affecting things growing, then you need to think about the farmers and how they manage,’ one responded.
Edgell's parent company, Simplot, addressed the issue, stating that customers will start to see more cans of Edgell Corn Kernels sourced from local farmers next month.
'We are committed to sourcing Australian vegetables first,' the company said.
'Our commitment to sourcing Aussie vegetables first means we aim to use home-grown produce in our products wherever possible.'
‘Of course, if a vegetable is not grown here or there simply isn’t enough to go around due to environmental conditions such as drought, fire, or floods, we need to look further afield to meet demand.’
‘In the case of our Edgell corn product, our previous harvest was impacted by severe wet weather. As a result, we had to draw on a contingency supply from Thailand. This product is subject to the same rigorous quality standards that we apply to all our food,’ they added.
‘We are pleased to advise that consumers will start to see more Australian-grown Edgell corn products on shelves in March.’
Speaking of deception, another brand also received backlash from shoppers.
In a previous story, customers called out Cocobella Coconut Water for what has been described as an ‘intentionally deceptive’ logo.
The issue sparked a heated debate online, with some defending Cocobella and others expressing anger and disappointment. You can read more about the story here.
Have you noticed similar labelling issues on other products? Share your experiences in the comments below.
The product in question?
The Edgell Corn Kernels—a staple in many Australian pantries.
Edgell, a leading supplier, has long been a champion of local produce, sourcing its corn from Australian farmers.
This commitment to local sourcing has been proudly displayed on their cans with an 'Australian grown' label, accompanied by a map of Australia.
However, recent adverse growing conditions have disrupted the corn supply in Australia, forcing Edgell to source some of its produce from Thailand.
This change has resulted in two varieties of Edgell Corn Kernels on supermarket shelves across the country.
One carries the familiar 'Australian grown' badge, while the other, made with corn from Thailand, sports a 'Good for gut health' badge.
This seemingly minor detail has sparked an outcry from a Woolworths shopper who noticed the two different Edgell corn cans mixed together on a shelf.
The shopper vented their frustration on social media, expressing annoyance at both Woolworths and Edgell.
‘I don’t know who I’m more annoyed with, Woolworths (I’m sure the other supermarket [does] the same) or Edgell,’ the shopper said.
'I'm sick and tired of having to make sure I pick up the tins of Australian corn (the ones with the Australian flag are made in Australia, the others are not).’
‘Same price, almost same packaging—the only difference is the Australian flags with the made in Australia (easy to miss)—in the same box on the shelf,' the shopper added.
The sentiment was echoed by other customers who are committed to buying Australian-made products.
Many agreed that it was a frustrating situation, with one person noting, 'Takes a long time to do a shop now.'
Another added, 'Yes, you have to read nearly everything, and the writing can be so small.'
Yet another wrote, ‘In the same box, SHIFTY and INTENTIONAL.’
Another shopper added, ‘We think Edgell [is] certainly at fault! To us, what they’ve done is so deceitful.’
However, others said that Edgell had to source from other regions due to unforeseen circumstances.
‘This one AGAIN. Floods, droughts, [and] fires all impact our crops. We do what we can, if you can understand the weather affecting things growing, then you need to think about the farmers and how they manage,’ one responded.
Edgell's parent company, Simplot, addressed the issue, stating that customers will start to see more cans of Edgell Corn Kernels sourced from local farmers next month.
'We are committed to sourcing Australian vegetables first,' the company said.
'Our commitment to sourcing Aussie vegetables first means we aim to use home-grown produce in our products wherever possible.'
‘Of course, if a vegetable is not grown here or there simply isn’t enough to go around due to environmental conditions such as drought, fire, or floods, we need to look further afield to meet demand.’
‘In the case of our Edgell corn product, our previous harvest was impacted by severe wet weather. As a result, we had to draw on a contingency supply from Thailand. This product is subject to the same rigorous quality standards that we apply to all our food,’ they added.
‘We are pleased to advise that consumers will start to see more Australian-grown Edgell corn products on shelves in March.’
Speaking of deception, another brand also received backlash from shoppers.
In a previous story, customers called out Cocobella Coconut Water for what has been described as an ‘intentionally deceptive’ logo.
The issue sparked a heated debate online, with some defending Cocobella and others expressing anger and disappointment. You can read more about the story here.
Key Takeaways
- Woolworths shoppers are frustrated with the confusion caused by two varieties of Edgell Corn Kernels, one Australian and one imported from Thailand, due to adverse growing conditions affecting local supply.
- The two canned corn products are mixed on shelves, and the distinguishing feature is a small 'Australian grown' badge, which shoppers find easy to overlook.
- Some customers feel deceived by the similar packaging of the local and imported products despite both meeting the same rigorous quality standards.
- Edgell's parent company assures that due to a commitment to sourcing Australian vegetables first, more cans of Australian-grown corn will be available from March following disruptions caused by severe weather.