We know that shopping at the grocery store can sometimes be a test of patience. Long lines, crowded aisles, and the occasional trolley collision are just a part of the experience.

But one thing we don't expect while browsing the shelves is coming across something that truly infuriates us.

That's exactly what happened recently to a baffled Coles customer who stumbled upon a rather alarming find among the baking goods in her local store. The shopper couldn't believe her eyes when she saw a packet of pork mince left sitting on a non-chilled shelf, among pancake shakers, chocolate chips, and other baking supplies.

Outraged and concerned, she took to an online forum group to share an image of the misplaced item, with the caption, 'What drives someone to do this? Seriously, North Perth Coles.'

The shopper shared this image of a pack of pork mince on a non-chilled shelf at Coles. Credit: Reddit.

The post quickly garnered hundreds of comments from fellow shoppers who were just as shocked and saddened by the sight.

Responses to the post were varied, with some voicing their dismay by calling it 'inconsiderate' and 'sad', while others got creative and wished the person responsible 'minor inconveniences' for the negligence.

Some also showed their disappointment at the wasteful and lazy act, with one commenter stating, 'It's an insult to the creatures that were slain for this product, at the very least.'

Another chimed in, 'Poor pig died for no reason.'

The concern didn't stop there. Other shoppers expressed anxiety about the potential consequences of the pork mince going to landfill or, even worse, being returned to the store's refrigerated section after sitting out for an extended period of time.

Coles employees joined the conversation as well, sharing their own horror stories about finding abandoned items in the wrong spots.

One worker shared, 'I work nightfill. You can't believe the amount of dump stock every damn night.'

Another commented and shared their discovery of a sliced-open tray of chicken breast in the dairy section.

A Coles spokesperson responded to the issue, urging customers to help maintain proper food safety. 'We know that our customers may change their minds when shopping in our stores, and that's okay,' they said.

'To assist our team, if a customer decides they no longer want to purchase an item, we urge them to please return chilled or frozen products to the refrigerated area so that they remain at a safe temperature.'

In addition, the spokesperson mentioned that Coles staff are always ready to help. 'We understand that our customers are often in a rush, so if you can't find a product or you don't have the time to return an item to its original place in the store, our friendly team members are always available to assist in helping return products to the shelves.'

Key Takeaways

• A Coles supermarket customer discovered a packet of pork mince left on a non-chilled shelf, among baking goods.
• Social media users expressed their dismay at the inconsiderate act, with some highlighting the waste and potential disregard for animal rights.
• Coles employees shared their own stories about finding perishable items left or damaged in the wrong places, resulting in hundreds of dollars worth of ruined products each shift.
• A Coles spokesperson asked customers to return chilled or frozen products to the refrigerated area and offered assistance from store staff to help ensure items are properly placed or returned.

Food Waste in Australia

In Australia, a staggering 7.6 million tonnes of food are lost or wasted annually. Shockingly, about 70 per cent of this food is still completely edible. Despite this fact, more than 2 million households in Australia have faced severe food insecurity within the last year. Furthermore, an alarming 1.3 million children have lived in households plagued by severe food insecurity during the same 12-month period.

Food is wasted in various ways, encompassing both food that was meant for human consumption but never reaches us, as well as edible food that consumers simply throw away.

A significant amount of perfectly edible fresh produce is frequently rejected by supermarkets and doesn't make it to their shelves because it fails to meet consumers' desired criteria, such as the 'perfect' shape, size, or colour.

Furthermore, foods that are close to, at, or even slightly past their 'best-before' date are often discarded by both retailers and consumers, despite still being within their 'use-by' date.

Adding to this wastage, significant amounts of food often go unused and end up being thrown away from both household kitchens and restaurants.

​

If you decide not to purchase an item, please take the initiative to put it back in its designated spot or ask a staff member for assistance.

By doing so, we can ensure an enjoyable shopping experience for everyone while also keeping products fresh.

Have any of you encountered similar situations during your shopping trips? How did you handle them? Share your stories with us in the comments section below; we would love to hear from you.

 

[CristinaV]

We know that shopping at the grocery store can sometimes be a test of patience. Long lines, crowded aisles, and the occasional trolley collision are just a part of the experience.

But one thing we don't expect while browsing the shelves is coming across something that truly infuriates us.

That's exactly what happened recently to a baffled Coles customer who stumbled upon a rather alarming find among the baking goods in her local store. The shopper couldn't believe her eyes when she saw a packet of pork mince left sitting on a non-chilled shelf, among pancake shakers, chocolate chips, and other baking supplies.

Outraged and concerned, she took to an online forum group to share an image of the misplaced item, with the caption, 'What drives someone to do this? Seriously, North Perth Coles.'

View attachment 22172

The shopper shared this image of a pack of pork mince on a non-chilled shelf at Coles. Credit: Reddit.

The post quickly garnered hundreds of comments from fellow shoppers who were just as shocked and saddened by the sight.

Responses to the post were varied, with some voicing their dismay by calling it 'inconsiderate' and 'sad', while others got creative and wished the person responsible 'minor inconveniences' for the negligence.

Some also showed their disappointment at the wasteful and lazy act, with one commenter stating, 'It's an insult to the creatures that were slain for this product, at the very least.'

Another chimed in, 'Poor pig died for no reason.'

The concern didn't stop there. Other shoppers expressed anxiety about the potential consequences of the pork mince going to landfill or, even worse, being returned to the store's refrigerated section after sitting out for an extended period of time.

Coles employees joined the conversation as well, sharing their own horror stories about finding abandoned items in the wrong spots.

One worker shared, 'I work nightfill. You can't believe the amount of dump stock every damn night.'

Another commented and shared their discovery of a sliced-open tray of chicken breast in the dairy section.

A Coles spokesperson responded to the issue, urging customers to help maintain proper food safety. 'We know that our customers may change their minds when shopping in our stores, and that's okay,' they said.

'To assist our team, if a customer decides they no longer want to purchase an item, we urge them to please return chilled or frozen products to the refrigerated area so that they remain at a safe temperature.'

In addition, the spokesperson mentioned that Coles staff are always ready to help. 'We understand that our customers are often in a rush, so if you can't find a product or you don't have the time to return an item to its original place in the store, our friendly team members are always available to assist in helping return products to the shelves.'

Key Takeaways

• A Coles supermarket customer discovered a packet of pork mince left on a non-chilled shelf, among baking goods.
• Social media users expressed their dismay at the inconsiderate act, with some highlighting the waste and potential disregard for animal rights.
• Coles employees shared their own stories about finding perishable items left or damaged in the wrong places, resulting in hundreds of dollars worth of ruined products each shift.
• A Coles spokesperson asked customers to return chilled or frozen products to the refrigerated area and offered assistance from store staff to help ensure items are properly placed or returned.

Food Waste in Australia

In Australia, a staggering 7.6 million tonnes of food are lost or wasted annually. Shockingly, about 70 per cent of this food is still completely edible. Despite this fact, more than 2 million households in Australia have faced severe food insecurity within the last year. Furthermore, an alarming 1.3 million children have lived in households plagued by severe food insecurity during the same 12-month period.

Food is wasted in various ways, encompassing both food that was meant for human consumption but never reaches us, as well as edible food that consumers simply throw away.

A significant amount of perfectly edible fresh produce is frequently rejected by supermarkets and doesn't make it to their shelves because it fails to meet consumers' desired criteria, such as the 'perfect' shape, size, or colour.

Furthermore, foods that are close to, at, or even slightly past their 'best-before' date are often discarded by both retailers and consumers, despite still being within their 'use-by' date.

Adding to this wastage, significant amounts of food often go unused and end up being thrown away from both household kitchens and restaurants.



If you decide not to purchase an item, please take the initiative to put it back in its designated spot or ask a staff member for assistance.

By doing so, we can ensure an enjoyable shopping experience for everyone while also keeping products fresh.

Have any of you encountered similar situations during your shopping trips? How did you handle them? Share your stories with us in the comments section below; we would love to hear from you.

We need to get over the anger of what other people do. Not everyone does what is expected. So people, if you want to live a better and calmer life, stop getting infuriated over something that is uncontrollable. People will be what they are - either do the right thing or be a rebel.

 

[Ricki]

We know that shopping at the grocery store can sometimes be a test of patience. Long lines, crowded aisles, and the occasional trolley collision are just a part of the experience.

But one thing we don't expect while browsing the shelves is coming across something that truly infuriates us.

That's exactly what happened recently to a baffled Coles customer who stumbled upon a rather alarming find among the baking goods in her local store. The shopper couldn't believe her eyes when she saw a packet of pork mince left sitting on a non-chilled shelf, among pancake shakers, chocolate chips, and other baking supplies.

Outraged and concerned, she took to an online forum group to share an image of the misplaced item, with the caption, 'What drives someone to do this? Seriously, North Perth Coles.'

View attachment 22172

The shopper shared this image of a pack of pork mince on a non-chilled shelf at Coles. Credit: Reddit.

The post quickly garnered hundreds of comments from fellow shoppers who were just as shocked and saddened by the sight.

Responses to the post were varied, with some voicing their dismay by calling it 'inconsiderate' and 'sad', while others got creative and wished the person responsible 'minor inconveniences' for the negligence.

Some also showed their disappointment at the wasteful and lazy act, with one commenter stating, 'It's an insult to the creatures that were slain for this product, at the very least.'

Another chimed in, 'Poor pig died for no reason.'

The concern didn't stop there. Other shoppers expressed anxiety about the potential consequences of the pork mince going to landfill or, even worse, being returned to the store's refrigerated section after sitting out for an extended period of time.

Coles employees joined the conversation as well, sharing their own horror stories about finding abandoned items in the wrong spots.

One worker shared, 'I work nightfill. You can't believe the amount of dump stock every damn night.'

Another commented and shared their discovery of a sliced-open tray of chicken breast in the dairy section.

A Coles spokesperson responded to the issue, urging customers to help maintain proper food safety. 'We know that our customers may change their minds when shopping in our stores, and that's okay,' they said.

'To assist our team, if a customer decides they no longer want to purchase an item, we urge them to please return chilled or frozen products to the refrigerated area so that they remain at a safe temperature.'

In addition, the spokesperson mentioned that Coles staff are always ready to help. 'We understand that our customers are often in a rush, so if you can't find a product or you don't have the time to return an item to its original place in the store, our friendly team members are always available to assist in helping return products to the shelves.'

Key Takeaways

• A Coles supermarket customer discovered a packet of pork mince left on a non-chilled shelf, among baking goods.
• Social media users expressed their dismay at the inconsiderate act, with some highlighting the waste and potential disregard for animal rights.
• Coles employees shared their own stories about finding perishable items left or damaged in the wrong places, resulting in hundreds of dollars worth of ruined products each shift.
• A Coles spokesperson asked customers to return chilled or frozen products to the refrigerated area and offered assistance from store staff to help ensure items are properly placed or returned.

Food Waste in Australia

In Australia, a staggering 7.6 million tonnes of food are lost or wasted annually. Shockingly, about 70 per cent of this food is still completely edible. Despite this fact, more than 2 million households in Australia have faced severe food insecurity within the last year. Furthermore, an alarming 1.3 million children have lived in households plagued by severe food insecurity during the same 12-month period.

Food is wasted in various ways, encompassing both food that was meant for human consumption but never reaches us, as well as edible food that consumers simply throw away.

A significant amount of perfectly edible fresh produce is frequently rejected by supermarkets and doesn't make it to their shelves because it fails to meet consumers' desired criteria, such as the 'perfect' shape, size, or colour.

Furthermore, foods that are close to, at, or even slightly past their 'best-before' date are often discarded by both retailers and consumers, despite still being within their 'use-by' date.

Adding to this wastage, significant amounts of food often go unused and end up being thrown away from both household kitchens and restaurants.



If you decide not to purchase an item, please take the initiative to put it back in its designated spot or ask a staff member for assistance.

By doing so, we can ensure an enjoyable shopping experience for everyone while also keeping products fresh.

Have any of you encountered similar situations during your shopping trips? How did you handle them? Share your stories with us in the comments section below; we would love to hear from you.

I have seen this occasionally at my local shop and I'm always in a conundrum as to what I should do. If I take it to a team member will they destroy it or just put it back in the meat section. Then someone will buy it and perhaps get sick not knowing why. It's a worry.

 

[Teddy is my boy]

I have seen this occasionally at my local shop and I'm always in a conundrum as to what I should do. If I take it to a team member will they destroy it or just put it back in the meat section. Then someone will buy it and perhaps get sick not knowing why. It's a worry.

 

[Teddy is my boy]

I took a kilo of bacon to a staff member that had been left on a shelf, the pack was still cold but l was told it still had to be written off, such a waste.
I did night fill for a few years and found stock dumped by lazy shoppers, also a used disposable nappy.

 

[Observer]

We know that shopping at the grocery store can sometimes be a test of patience. Long lines, crowded aisles, and the occasional trolley collision are just a part of the experience.

But one thing we don't expect while browsing the shelves is coming across something that truly infuriates us.

That's exactly what happened recently to a baffled Coles customer who stumbled upon a rather alarming find among the baking goods in her local store. The shopper couldn't believe her eyes when she saw a packet of pork mince left sitting on a non-chilled shelf, among pancake shakers, chocolate chips, and other baking supplies.

Outraged and concerned, she took to an online forum group to share an image of the misplaced item, with the caption, 'What drives someone to do this? Seriously, North Perth Coles.'

View attachment 22172

The shopper shared this image of a pack of pork mince on a non-chilled shelf at Coles. Credit: Reddit.

The post quickly garnered hundreds of comments from fellow shoppers who were just as shocked and saddened by the sight.

Responses to the post were varied, with some voicing their dismay by calling it 'inconsiderate' and 'sad', while others got creative and wished the person responsible 'minor inconveniences' for the negligence.

Some also showed their disappointment at the wasteful and lazy act, with one commenter stating, 'It's an insult to the creatures that were slain for this product, at the very least.'

Another chimed in, 'Poor pig died for no reason.'

The concern didn't stop there. Other shoppers expressed anxiety about the potential consequences of the pork mince going to landfill or, even worse, being returned to the store's refrigerated section after sitting out for an extended period of time.

Coles employees joined the conversation as well, sharing their own horror stories about finding abandoned items in the wrong spots.

One worker shared, 'I work nightfill. You can't believe the amount of dump stock every damn night.'

Another commented and shared their discovery of a sliced-open tray of chicken breast in the dairy section.

A Coles spokesperson responded to the issue, urging customers to help maintain proper food safety. 'We know that our customers may change their minds when shopping in our stores, and that's okay,' they said.

'To assist our team, if a customer decides they no longer want to purchase an item, we urge them to please return chilled or frozen products to the refrigerated area so that they remain at a safe temperature.'

In addition, the spokesperson mentioned that Coles staff are always ready to help. 'We understand that our customers are often in a rush, so if you can't find a product or you don't have the time to return an item to its original place in the store, our friendly team members are always available to assist in helping return products to the shelves.'

Key Takeaways

• A Coles supermarket customer discovered a packet of pork mince left on a non-chilled shelf, among baking goods.
• Social media users expressed their dismay at the inconsiderate act, with some highlighting the waste and potential disregard for animal rights.
• Coles employees shared their own stories about finding perishable items left or damaged in the wrong places, resulting in hundreds of dollars worth of ruined products each shift.
• A Coles spokesperson asked customers to return chilled or frozen products to the refrigerated area and offered assistance from store staff to help ensure items are properly placed or returned.

Food Waste in Australia

In Australia, a staggering 7.6 million tonnes of food are lost or wasted annually. Shockingly, about 70 per cent of this food is still completely edible. Despite this fact, more than 2 million households in Australia have faced severe food insecurity within the last year. Furthermore, an alarming 1.3 million children have lived in households plagued by severe food insecurity during the same 12-month period.

Food is wasted in various ways, encompassing both food that was meant for human consumption but never reaches us, as well as edible food that consumers simply throw away.

A significant amount of perfectly edible fresh produce is frequently rejected by supermarkets and doesn't make it to their shelves because it fails to meet consumers' desired criteria, such as the 'perfect' shape, size, or colour.

Furthermore, foods that are close to, at, or even slightly past their 'best-before' date are often discarded by both retailers and consumers, despite still being within their 'use-by' date.

Adding to this wastage, significant amounts of food often go unused and end up being thrown away from both household kitchens and restaurants.

View attachment 22238​

If you decide not to purchase an item, please take the initiative to put it back in its designated spot or ask a staff member for assistance.

By doing so, we can ensure an enjoyable shopping experience for everyone while also keeping products fresh.

Have any of you encountered similar situations during your shopping trips? How did you handle them? Share your stories with us in the comments section below; we would love to hear from you.

I have actually seen a roast chook obtained from the deli and left on a standard temperatured shelf. Not good. What a waste.

 

[terri]

I have seen this occasionally at my local shop and I'm always in a conundrum as to what I should do. If I take it to a team member will they destroy it or just put it back in the meat section. Then someone will buy it and perhaps get sick not knowing why. It's a worry.

These products are never returned to the meat, or dairy cases. They are written off as loss. I worked for Coles for almost 12 years and this is a very common problem caused by laziness and thoughtlessness. I could write a book on what I have seen over the years but I am aiming to use my retirement years to try and get over this behaviour. Very hard when I see it everytime I shop for myself. That's people.

 

[terri]

I have actually seen a roast chook obtained from the deli and left on a standard temperatured shelf. Not good. What a waste.

I have seen eaten BBQ chickens left after the customer had a good feed. Honestly not ok.

 

[Tipsy]

We know that shopping at the grocery store can sometimes be a test of patience. Long lines, crowded aisles, and the occasional trolley collision are just a part of the experience.

But one thing we don't expect while browsing the shelves is coming across something that truly infuriates us.

That's exactly what happened recently to a baffled Coles customer who stumbled upon a rather alarming find among the baking goods in her local store. The shopper couldn't believe her eyes when she saw a packet of pork mince left sitting on a non-chilled shelf, among pancake shakers, chocolate chips, and other baking supplies.

Outraged and concerned, she took to an online forum group to share an image of the misplaced item, with the caption, 'What drives someone to do this? Seriously, North Perth Coles.'

View attachment 22172

The shopper shared this image of a pack of pork mince on a non-chilled shelf at Coles. Credit: Reddit.

The post quickly garnered hundreds of comments from fellow shoppers who were just as shocked and saddened by the sight.

Responses to the post were varied, with some voicing their dismay by calling it 'inconsiderate' and 'sad', while others got creative and wished the person responsible 'minor inconveniences' for the negligence.

Some also showed their disappointment at the wasteful and lazy act, with one commenter stating, 'It's an insult to the creatures that were slain for this product, at the very least.'

Another chimed in, 'Poor pig died for no reason.'

The concern didn't stop there. Other shoppers expressed anxiety about the potential consequences of the pork mince going to landfill or, even worse, being returned to the store's refrigerated section after sitting out for an extended period of time.

Coles employees joined the conversation as well, sharing their own horror stories about finding abandoned items in the wrong spots.

One worker shared, 'I work nightfill. You can't believe the amount of dump stock every damn night.'

Another commented and shared their discovery of a sliced-open tray of chicken breast in the dairy section.

A Coles spokesperson responded to the issue, urging customers to help maintain proper food safety. 'We know that our customers may change their minds when shopping in our stores, and that's okay,' they said.

'To assist our team, if a customer decides they no longer want to purchase an item, we urge them to please return chilled or frozen products to the refrigerated area so that they remain at a safe temperature.'

In addition, the spokesperson mentioned that Coles staff are always ready to help. 'We understand that our customers are often in a rush, so if you can't find a product or you don't have the time to return an item to its original place in the store, our friendly team members are always available to assist in helping return products to the shelves.'

Key Takeaways

• A Coles supermarket customer discovered a packet of pork mince left on a non-chilled shelf, among baking goods.
• Social media users expressed their dismay at the inconsiderate act, with some highlighting the waste and potential disregard for animal rights.
• Coles employees shared their own stories about finding perishable items left or damaged in the wrong places, resulting in hundreds of dollars worth of ruined products each shift.
• A Coles spokesperson asked customers to return chilled or frozen products to the refrigerated area and offered assistance from store staff to help ensure items are properly placed or returned.

Food Waste in Australia

In Australia, a staggering 7.6 million tonnes of food are lost or wasted annually. Shockingly, about 70 per cent of this food is still completely edible. Despite this fact, more than 2 million households in Australia have faced severe food insecurity within the last year. Furthermore, an alarming 1.3 million children have lived in households plagued by severe food insecurity during the same 12-month period.

Food is wasted in various ways, encompassing both food that was meant for human consumption but never reaches us, as well as edible food that consumers simply throw away.

A significant amount of perfectly edible fresh produce is frequently rejected by supermarkets and doesn't make it to their shelves because it fails to meet consumers' desired criteria, such as the 'perfect' shape, size, or colour.

Furthermore, foods that are close to, at, or even slightly past their 'best-before' date are often discarded by both retailers and consumers, despite still being within their 'use-by' date.

Adding to this wastage, significant amounts of food often go unused and end up being thrown away from both household kitchens and restaurants.

View attachment 22238​

If you decide not to purchase an item, please take the initiative to put it back in its designated spot or ask a staff member for assistance.

By doing so, we can ensure an enjoyable shopping experience for everyone while also keeping products fresh.

Have any of you encountered similar situations during your shopping trips? How did you handle them? Share your stories with us in the comments section below; we would love to hear from you.

You will find that 99% of those who leave their unwanted produce where ever they feel like Couldnt care less about the product being thrown out because of their inept stupidity as they think someone will put it back or take it and the other reason is that they are just to bloody lazy to put it back from where they got it.

 

[Jarred Santos]

I never knew they got written off, even if they were returned. As someone who doesn't like wasting food, how sad!