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A customer was shocked to find safety labels on packets of steak sold at a Coles supermarket in Melbourne.
That shopper noticed the marks, which are more often seen on clothing in department stores, clipped to the corner of a Coles-branded quick cook porterhouse steak.
The customer posted the photograph of the supermarket’s latest crime crackdown on social media site Reddit.
‘Physical security marks on Coles steaks,’ the user wrote in the caption.
The post was flooded with hundreds of comments from users slamming the use of tags.
A customer was left shocked after they found safety stickers (pictured) on packets of steak stocked at a Coles supermarket
“Food safety labels of any kind are depressing,” said one user.
‘It’s messed up,’ wrote another.
Others said they would reconsider shopping in Coles and hit out at the measure at a time when people are struggling to pay for essentials during a cost of living crisis.
‘It is depressing that we have come to this. Cost of living, spending more on theft prevention instead of lowering prices so people don’t have to steal meat,” said one user.
‘I’m honestly looking for a local butcher shop now. If I see even one of these tags in my local (Coles) it will be it,’ said another user.
Some added that not all Coles stores in Australia have installed safety labels on meat products.
‘This is not in all stores. It’s about where you live,’ one user said.
The latest discovery comes after shoppers also noticed that security tags had been imprinted on items without the physical device.
A shopper noticed a lock symbol placed on the corner of a package of lamb chops with the words “security protected” printed on the outside of the lock icon.
Shoppers criticized the move to introduce the safety measure on the supermarket’s meat products (pictured)
Shoppers have also previously noticed a “secured” feature printed on meat packs, with one shopper spotting the lock symbol on the corner of a pack of lamb chops (pictured)
Some shoppers defended the supermarket giant’s move to install the devices, saying farmers have had to struggle with the slow growth of crops to feed their cattle.
A former Coles employee said she would often find empty steak and lamb packets on the shelves in the meat department after customers removed the items from their packaging.
A Coles spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that the security tags have been introduced in some stores as part of steps the company has taken to prevent items from being stolen.
“The safety of our team members and customers is our top priority and we have a number of security measures in place to reduce theft from our stores, including security staff and surveillance technologies such as CCTV,” the spokesman said.
“The Reddit post showing tags on some meat products is a very small trial in just 10 Victorian shops.
‘We are constantly reassessing and trying new security measures.’
Security tags have long been used by supermarket chains and retailers as a measure to protect stock from being stolen.
The most common type of security tags used by businesses are Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) devices.
The tags trigger a signal when a customer tries to leave a store without paying for an item when the device is detected at the exit.
A shopper was scanning her groceries at a self-service checkout over the weekend when she noticed a picture of herself had appeared in a small square in the upper-right corner (pictured) of the screen.