Powdered milk, spam and brown rice: The items Australians AREN’T buying as they stockpile fridges, freezers and cupboards over coronavirus fears
- Fears over coronavirus spread has seen stockpiling at Australian supermarkets
- But there are some items desperate shoppers are still not putting in their trolleys
- Items left on shelves include frozen limes, spam, spatchcock and powdered milk
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison said panic buying should stop as it’s un-Australian
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
From spatchcock to spam, brown rice and powdered milk, these are the items Australians aren’t buying even as they stockpile amid the coronavirus pandemic.
While supermarket shelves are being stripped of many food items including toilet paper and pasta, there are some products that are being left behind.
A trip to several Woolworths and Coles supermarkets across Sydney on Friday morning revealed the last foods left on the shelves, even amid growing talk of lockdowns and the threat of a fortnight in self-quarantine.
Celebrity chef Curtis Stone’s brand of mince was the last available on the shelves at Coles on Friday
Even as shoppers stripped the shelves at a nearby Woolworths store, they still could not be tempted by raw spatchcock
Flour has been stripped widely off the shelves, apart from these four varieties of McKenzie’s
Canned foods have become hot property in recent weeks, but spam was left on the shelf at most supermarkets.
The idea of powdered milk is also a step too far for many, with a full compliment of both full cream and goat’s milk powder left in an otherwise empty aisle.
Freezers across the nation are being stocked with meats but celebrity chef Curtis Stone’s branded mince remained untouched in the fridge section at Coles in Bondi Junction.
Spatchcocks were also left on the shelf.
Two rows of Barilla risoni sat alone at the top of an otherwise empty pasta shelf at Woolworths.
Two rows of Barilla risoni sat alone at the top of an otherwise empty shelf in the pasta aisle at one Woolworths store
It seems the extent of the downturn in Corona beer sales has impacted the sales of frozen lime
Herb and garlic kangaroo kebabs sat just above the roast spatchcock on an otherwise empty shelf
Homebrand frozen chips did not tempt shoppers at one Woolworths supermarket in Sydney’s east
Duck fat was the last item on this refrigerated shelf at Woolworths Bondi Junction, in Sydney’s east, on Friday
In the largely decimated freezer section at Woolworths in Bondi Junction, two things remained fully stocked – frozen chips and frozen lemon wedges.
It seems the extent of the downturn in Corona beer sales has extended to slices of frozen lime.
The only other item left fully stocked at one end of the freezer was home brand frozen chips.
Shoppers looking for a sweet treat apparently could not be tempted by family-sized packets of original and chocolate flavoured Oreos.
Microwaveable packets of Woolworths brand brown rice were also untouched on the shelf.
Those putting sweet treats away for a rainy day were not interested in the original or chocolate Oreo family-packs
Woolworths brand of microwavable brown rice was in full supply, the last item on this shelf
Milk powder was a step too far for many, although fresh milk is still in good supply at most shops across Australia
Long life goat milk was the last option available for those stocking up their cupboards
Despite longlife foods and toilet paper being stripped from shelves quicker than they can be put on display, the government says panic buying is ‘un-Australian’.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged people to stop doing it.
‘It is not sensible, it is not helpful and it has been one of the most disappointing things I have seen in Australian behaviour in response to this crisis,’ he said.
‘It’s ridiculous, it’s un-Australian, and it must stop.’
Mr Morrison also slammed those who had abused retail staff, with a number of nasty incidents in recent weeks, including the stabbing of a Woolworths worker in Victoria.