‘Contaminated’: Ritzy suburb’s Coles clip goes viral

An unwelcome visitor has been filmed helping itself to the pick and mix station at a local supermarket, prompting some hilarious commentary online.

A cheeky pigeon has been caught indulging in a free lunch at a Coles supermarket in one of Melbourne’s most up-market suburbs.

Footage shared online shows the bird perched on the edge of a scoop & weight bin at the Toorak store and dipping its head in for a mouthful of almonds – seemingly unfazed by nearby shoppers.

The bird can then be seen nestling into the almonds and getting comfortable as it continues to pick at them.

The video, which has quickly done the rounds on social media, has sparked lighthearted reactions, with some users labelling the bird as “cute and clever.”

A pigeon has been spotted enjoying a free lunch at a Coles supermarket. Picture: TikTok/halfsilk

The bird could be seen getting comfortable inside the almond box. Picture: TikTok/halfsilk

“The cost of living is impacting everyone, even birds have to stoop to the lowest of lows,” joked one.

“They’re so clever. Too cute,” said another.

“He’s in heaven! What a sweet little guy,” said a third.

However, not everyone was so impressed.

“Don’t let it inside the food?!?! Now its contaminated,” complained one.

“That’s so nasty,” said another.

“That’s SO unsanitary,” said a third.

According to strict guidelines from Food Standards Australia and New Zealand, food businesses must keep storage areas clean, dry and free of pests.

A spokesperson for Coles told news.com.au: “While the pigeon in the social media video clearly believed it had discovered the ultimate bird ‘buffet’ — and may well have hit the pigeon jackpot — we want to reassure customers that maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and food safety in our stores is always our top priority.

The spokesperson continued: “As a food retailer, we work really hard to uphold the highest level of hygiene in our stores and we have numerous measures in place to deter birds from entering our stores in the first place. Occasionally, when birds outsmart our systems, we then ensure a thorough clean is carried out.”

The Coles representative added that as soon as the incident in the video occurred, the team helped remove the bird and return it outdoors. They also disposed of the affected almonds and “thoroughly cleaned and disinfected the scoop and container involved.”

The spokesperson added: “Our pick and mix stations are a popular choice for customers, offering variety and flexibility, and we’re continually reviewing and enhancing our protocols to ensure the hygiene is protected at all times.”

Last year, a cockatoo became stuck in a NSW Coles store for over four weeks. Picture: Supplied/2GB

Similarly, the bird was quite comfortable with the variety of food. Picture: Supplied/2GB

The pigeon incident comes after a cockatoo nicknamed Mickey became stuck in a Coles supermarket for over four weeks, late last year.

The native bird became reportedly trapped inside the store at Macarthur Square in Campbelltown, NSW, after he flew through the loading dock.

A Coles spokeswoman told NewsWire at the time that the bird had “become a friendly fixture in the Macarthur Square shopping centre, and is currently not inside Coles but exploring other areas inside the broader shopping precinct.”

“When the bird entered our store, our team along with external expert wildlife and bird management organisations were working extremely hard to safely and importantly, humanely, relocate the cockatoo to where it belongs, in the outdoors.”

The Coles spokeswoman said it was important to make sure staff found the right balance between protecting the animal and honouring food safety standards.

Originally published as ‘Contaminated’: Ritzy suburb’s Coles clip goes viral