'Like dog food': Shoppers spot sad detail in Coles magazine

The full-page recipe highlights a surprising reality for many Aussies, who are turning to a retro pantry staple to stretch their weekly food budget.

Amid the cost of living crisis, many Aussie families are making tough choices to stretch their weekly food budget. 

One trend that's emerging is the return to retro pantry staples like corned beef, SPAM and other processed meats.

A recent ad in the Coles magazine promoting Hot and Spicy SPAM has caught the attention of shoppers, highlighting this broader trend in household spending. 

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Surprising return of nostalgic pantry staple

The ad, which features a recipe for Spicy SPAM Noodles, calls the canned meat the “hero ingredient.”

Priced at $5.40 for a 340g can at Coles, the SPAM is mashed with a fork to create a mince-like consistency, then cooked with rice noodles and aromatics, and topped with thin slices of fried SPAM.

The ad also suggests adding SPAM to other meals, such as egg or rice dishes.

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The Kidspot team shared their thoughts on the unexpected return of SPAM, with Em saying, “Well, for starters, it actually looks surprisingly delicious. And no shade to anybody trying to feed their families for less. In saying that, is it also a sign of the times? I think definitely, yes.”

Kitchen Editor Liz added, “SPAM is always looked down on, but in the right recipe and with the right seasonings, it can make a great meal for the family.”

Then Carly shared, “I feel like stocking up on SPAM is zombie apocalypse level - there are many other items I will fill my pantry with first (like instant noodles and ALDI tuna) before resorting to this American way of life. It’s giving dog food vibes.”

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"No matter which way you cut it, it’s really good value"

The return of SPAM comes alongside a resurgence of another processed meat product: corned beef, also known as silverside.

IGA has reported a dramatic increase in demand for the product, with annual sales for corned beef jumping by 31 per cent.

Priced at about $8 per kilo, it has become one of IGA’s top-selling beef products, alongside beef mince, beef scotch fillet, and rump steak.

Estella Young, IGA’s executive general manager, said that corned beef provides excellent value to budget-conscious Aussies.

“We know that there’s a lot of Aussie families that are doing it tough and really working hard to make ends meet,” she told NewsWire.

“When you’re able to get a great value protein and make meals, recipes that potentially don’t just do dinner for that evening [but] lunch the next day as well… that’s a great way to stretch your budget. No matter which way you cut it, it’s really good value.”

Young also noted that nostalgia might also be driving some of the demand.

“It’s been a really cold winter and people absolutely resonate with childhood recipes, comfort food recipes that you remember your mum cooking for you,” she said.

IGA recently reduced the price of corned beef from $12.50 to $8 per kilo, responding to a growing number of shoppers looking for cheaper meat products.

Corned beef currently costs $8 per kilo at Coles and Woolworths, while the canned version costs $3.50 for 340g at both supermarkets.

Online searches for corned beef have also surged, with a 67 per cent increase on delicious.com.au last year, and the trend continues this year.

So, will you be turning to these affordable meat products? Let us know in the poll above. 

Originally published as 'Like dog food': Shoppers spot sad detail in Coles magazine