As we age, we often become more conscious of our health and the importance of maintaining good hygiene, especially when it comes to our food.

A recent incident at a Coles, however, has left many horrified and concerned about food safety.

Laura, a regular Coles shopper, was looking forward to picking up her favourite snack—chilli and lime soy crisps—from the supermarket's 'scoop and weigh' section.

This feature allows customers to scoop their chosen goods into zip-lock bags, weigh them, and print a barcode for pricing based on weight.

It's a great way to save money, as buying in bulk is often cheaper than purchasing pre-packaged goods.

However, during her latest visit, Laura's shopping experience took a distressing turn.

Laura shared a concerning thing she witnessed while shopping.
Image Credit: Tiktok/@laurakleis

In a video shared on social media, she recounted how she witnessed a man open the lid of a container, stick his hand in, and help himself to a taste right then and there.

'He opened it, grabbed it, and then ate it and now I can never go and scoop away,' Laura said, visibly shaken by the event.

'People are here doing that? He grabbed it with his hand.'

The 'scoop and weigh' debacle has sparked a wave of concern among shoppers, with many relating to her experience in the comments.

Some shared their own unsavoury experiences in the said section.

‘I once witnessed someone open one of the scoop and weigh containers to sneeze directly into it,’ one recounted.

‘I’ve seen a small child eating straight out of it and the parent letting them. Never will I eat these,’ another comment read.

The incident raises important questions about the safety and cleanliness of bulk food sections.

While they offer convenience and cost savings, they also seem to present a risk of contamination.

It's a reminder that sometimes, paying a little extra for pre-packaged goods isn't just about convenience; it's about ensuring the safety and hygiene of our food.

With the rise of these safety concerns, there are some rules supermarkets can consider to improve the hygiene in these areas.

The supermarket can implement stricter supervision, better signage reminding customers of proper etiquette, or even a move towards more secure dispensers that limit direct contact.

As of writing, Coles has not commented on the matter.

After this incident, it would be wise to exercise caution when using 'scoop and weigh' services.

It might also be worth thinking about what supermarkets are doing to ensure these sections are kept hygienic for everyone.

Key Takeaways

• A Coles shopper was left horrified after witnessing unhygienic practices at the supermarket's 'scoop and weigh' section.
• The shopper recorded a video expressing her shock at seeing another shopper eating directly from the bulk bins.
• Many social media users concurred with her concern, sharing their unfavourable experiences and qualms about the self-serve scoop bins.
• Comments suggested some customers prefer to pay more for pre-packaged items to avoid hygiene issues witnessed at the 'scoop and weigh' stations.

Have you had similar experiences with bulk food sections at supermarkets? Do you have any suggestions for how stores could improve hygiene in these areas? Tell us about your thoughts and stories in the comments below.

 

[Chris]

Believe me, humans doing this sort of thing at self serves are the least of your worries about what gets in there! ugh. These things are archaic & need banning.

 

[Clancieblue]

Quite easily be locked you have the goods come out down a chute into a bag with a dial for how much you want, the customer has NO ACCESS to the main container of goods.

That's a much better idea, a bit like a cereal dispenser.

 

[KaitlinHill]

Such cases can expose products to the risk of contamination and be a source of concern for consumers. It would be wise for supermarkets to take additional control and hygiene measures in these areas, such as stricter supervision, better information navigation for shoppers and even the use of more secure dispensers to limit direct contact with products.

 

[KaitlinHill]

Such incidents are cause for concern and it is important to ensure food safety. Control measures such as stricter surveillance and bright signs can help improve the situation. It is important that supermarkets take measures to keep these areas clean and hygienic.