‘Warning: This package contains the dead body of someone who wanted to live’

Vegan activists have gone the extra mile to shame meat-eaters in one outer Melbourne suburb but some say they gone too far.

Shoppers at a Woolworths in Melbourne’s St Helena copped a nasty surprise when they made their way to the meat, seafood and deli section.

Stickers were slapped over packets of Primo thinly sliced chicken and other meat/dairy products yesterday, in a bid to discourage shoppers from buying them.

“Warning: this package contains the dead body of someone who wanted to live,” the stickers read.

Meat-eaters were greeted by the above when they tried to purchase poultry. Picture: 3AW

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A 42-pack of the activism adhesives is currently available for purchase on Etsy for just $11.

The activism stickers are super cheap to purchase in bulk. Picture: Etsy

This particular supplier assures customers that the stickers are all vegan: Picture: Etsy

The stickers caused a stir on social media, especially among meat-eaters.

Some said the stickers had taken things too far.

"WARNING: this packet contains lettuce that enjoyed the fertilizer and didn't want to be picked"

— Simon Whelan (@simewhelan) 3 May 2019

Others simply didn’t appreciate the sentiment (or being told what to do).

I tell you what mate, we don't tell you how to be a vegetarian, so if you are, good luck to you. But DON'T tell us what we can or cannot eat... #eachtotheirown #somethingnotsomeonelookitup

— PS4 EKSACUTE_ORDER66 (@shanerliddy) 3 May 2019

If humans didn’t eat meat, none of these animals would have been born.

— Dan Drillbuster 2.0 😜 (@Drillbuster2) 3 May 2019

That’s great. But this isn’t helping their cause. Because they want to do this. I want to eat more meat. Be vegan fine. Not my problem. #vegan #ilovemeat #Carnivore #carnivoresrule

— stewballs (@stewballs2) 3 May 2019

Others questioned the wording of the slogan. In particular, use of the word ‘someone’ in reference to animals.

Someone? pic.twitter.com/wnkrQ6oKgU

— Vic Ferre (@69bigvic) 3 May 2019

Someone? Wouldn’t that make it a human in that packaging then? 🤔😬😳

— Sean (@theThurbonator) 3 May 2019

While the definition is debatable, the message of the stickers is clear: animal lives are equated with human lives.

“You are not someone … you are an animal,” posted one user, adding, “Human life comes first.”

“Very unkind thing to say when you consider animals as not sentient beings,” another social media user said.

Very unkind thing to say when you consider animals as not sentient beings e.g. did you know a mother cow cries for days after they take her baby away for your veal and you steal their milk! Heartless!

— Carmen Vella (@annaandy40) 3 May 2019

This isn’t the first time vegan activists have chosen supermarkets as their poster boards.

The last time animal rights activists engaged in some sticker-vism was in January last year.

Stickers were plastered on meat products at some Woolworths and Coles stores.

Back then, the stickers read, “Meat consumption causes diabetes” and, “Meat consumption causes heart disease”.