In a shocking incident at Chadstone Shopping Centre, Victoria, an entire Coles store worth of groceries was discarded after being contaminated with silica dust.
A man believed to be working in the loading area, captured footage of a vast amount of stock, including essential items such as toilet paper, pet food, and soft drinks, being thrown out.
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The video went viral online, with more than 200,000 views, and a second one was seen being poured into a garbage truck.
“Coles doing a de-fit at Chadstone. Throwing all their stock out,” the man wrote on TikTok on Wednesday.
“No one is allowed to even take out the bin. Dog food, boxes of soft drinks, toilet paper, everything! Couldn’t this have gone to the needy?”
Outraged viewers expressed their dismay at the waste, noting that the discarded items could have been donated to those in need.
“Unbelievable, something needs to be done now. All the packaged food can be used for the homeless and all the shelters,” one comment said.
“That could feed so many hungry Victorians,” one person commented.
Coles responded to the incident, explaining that the store had temporarily suspended trading due to nearby construction, which led to the accumulation of dust.
“We have been conducting a deep clean of the store and, unfortunately due to product safety and quality, need to dispose of a number of products due to contamination from the dust.” said in the statement.
“We have been conducting a deep clean of the store and, unfortunately due to product safety and quality, need to dispose of a number of products due to contamination from the dust.
“Where possible, Coles always donates product that is fit for use and consumption to food rescue organisations.”
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