Angry Coles customers want supermarket chain to follow Woolworth’s lead

SUPERMARKET giant Coles is coming under increasing pressure from its customers over the way it stores eggs.

Egg shortage in shopping centres pic at Ascot Coles

SUPERMARKET giant Coles is coming under increasing pressure from its customers over the way it stores eggs.

Rival Woolworths has said it would store eggs on refrigerated shelves, which helps stop salmonella being spread. But Coles has yet to give that same assurance.

And that is what’s upsetting many of its customers — some of who are threatening to boycott the Coles stores until there is action.

Salmonella has the potential to be quite dangerous and can result in sufferers being hospitalised.

Many of the angry customers took to Facebook and Twitter to vent their frustration.

Why would @coles Traralgon move its location of eggs from refrigerated cabinet to open shelves? Cos it can?? #salmonella

— Paul Burns (@rubicon137) January 9, 2016

@coles Just another reason to boycott #coles as it won’t sell eggs from refrigerated cabinets. #Aldi also guilty. #woolworths here I come.

— Apples (@appleshk) January 9, 2016

@Coles Please store your eggs in refrigerated cabinets as @woolworths already do in many stores.

— Elizabeth Taylor (@eatay3) January 8, 2016

According to Fairfax, Coles replied to some of the customers via social media but hasn’t officially commented on the controversy.

It told customers via tweets that it understood their concern, but said Food Standards Australia and New Zealand said there was no need to refrigerate hen’s eggs to prevent bacterial growth, as long as they remain intact.

In another tweet, Coles tried to reassure another customer that refrigerating eggs didn’t significantly reduce the chance of salmonella.

In a previous statement to Fairfax on the issue, Coles would only say it “adheres to all health and safety regulations regarding egg storage”.