Coles and Woolies back inspectors on patrol for ham scams across Christmas

Inspectors are on the prowl to ensure consumers get what they pay for when buying hams and seafood this Christmas.

Supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths have a “bring it on” attitude to a government blitz to nab traders selling underweight hams and prawns this Christmas.

The two national retailers, along with meat and seafood industry leaders, have backed the National Measure Institute’s crackdown on weight checks for fresh food.

The federal body will weight audit about 450 supermarkets, butchers, fresh fish and chicken shops across the festive season.

Pre-packaged meat and seafood will also come under the watchful eye of National Measurement Institute inspectors during the festive season. Picture: Troy Bendeich

Inspectors will act as secret shoppers to ensure businesses are following correct trading practices, such as accounting for the weight of packaging materials when selling over the counter and checking scales are working accurately.

Woolworths stores director Rob Moffat welcomed the blitz, saying it would serve to reassure consumers they were not getting short-changed.

“It’s so important that our customers can shop with the confidence they’re getting what they’re paying for,” he told NCA NewsWire.

“As always, we welcome the NMI’s audit activity and the integrity it brings to our trade measurement system.“

Seafood will be one of the targets of National Measurement Institute inspectors who will check labelling and weights of fresh produce during the lead-up to Christmas. Picture: Adam Ward

A Coles representative said inspectors were likely to find the scales tipped in favour of the customer at their stores.

“Previous audits by the NMI have found the vast majority of scales tested at Coles weighed either accurately or in customers’ favour, and most noncompliances identified by the NMI related to the legibility of testing stickers rather than the accuracy of the scales themselves,” the spokesperson said.

Industry Minister Karen Andrews said secret shoppers would be part of the crackdown on scale cheats and labelling errors. Picture: Matt Taylor

Industry Minister Karen Andrews said NMI inspectors would also patrol pre-packaged goods .

Non-compliant businesses face a $1110 fine per offence while companies can be hit $222,000 per offence.

Seafood Industry Australia CEO Veronica Papacosta said the crackdown would provide consumer confidence.

“It’s important to the Australian seafood industry that consumers get the great Australian seafood they are paying for,” she said.

Australian Pork's CEO Margo Andrae says there is no evidence of widespread cheating and the industry welcomes the ‘weight’ blitz.

Australian Pork Industry CEO Margo Andrae said there was no reason customers should mistrust retailers.

“We work closely with our local butchers and supermarkets throughout the year and we have every confidence that they are doing the right thing by Australians this Christmas,” she said.

“We don’t have any insight that suggests there is a mistrust in the industry when it comes to scale measurements.

“However, we do welcome any initiatives that can provide reassurance to consumers as they look to purchase their proteins this Christmas.”