Eco-warrior slams Woolworths after they refused to fill her Tupperware with shop-bought chicken on health and safety grounds and forced her to use a plastic bag instead
- Woman sparked online debate about Woolworths’ use of disposable packaging
- Mudita Jawor brought her own container when she visited Mullumbimby store
- Staff denied request and wrapped chicken necks in single-use plastic and paper
- Woolworths has announced planned trial for customers to provide containers
An environmental crusader who slammed Woolworths over the supermarket giant’s use and waste of unnecessary packaging has sparked an online debate.
Mudita Jawor visited her local store in Mullumbimby in far northern New South Wales on Sunday, armed with a reusable container for staff to fill with store-bought chicken necks instead of being wrapped in disposable packaging.
She left the store disappointed after her request was denied by deli staff and later took to the Byron Bay Community Board Facebook page to vent her outrage.
‘Just went into Woolworths Mullumbimby, we brought our own container to get chicken necks for the dog. They refused to fill our container,’ Ms Jawor captioned the photo of her purchase wrapped in single-use plastic and paper.
‘The only option is to take a plastic bag. We spoke with management, they claim Health and safety as the reason they won’t fill customer containers. Woolworths you need to make changes.’
Mudita Jawor (pictured) has called on Woolworths to slash use of unnecessary packaging
The Facebook post sparked more than 250 comments and divided the local community.
Some suggested Ms Jawor go to the butcher next time while others offered other helpful advice.
‘You could ask them for a deli container and then reuse that container,’ one person commented.
But many people defended the store’s actions, citing health concerns about cross-contamination.
‘If your container is contaminated and it contaminates the chicken, Woolworths have no defence when you sue them for food poisoning. They can’t prove your container was contaminated. They can however prove the plastic bag you were given was clean and if the chicken was contaminated in their store or after it left. Just deal with it,’ one man posted.
Another added: ‘It’s basic hygiene practices.’
Mudita was unhappy about the chicken necks being wrapped in unnecessary single-use packaging after her request to reuse a supplied container was denied (pictured)
Woolworths recently announced it’s planning to trial an option for customers who wish to provide their own environmentally-friendly packaging to cut back on disposable plastic.
The supermarket is currently in consultations with local councils in relation to the trial to ensure they will comply with strict health regulations.
The proposal is already active in some UK supermarket chains but has previously been rejected by Coles and Woolworths due to hygiene concerns.
It occurred at Woolworths Mullumbimby (pictured) in far northern NSW near Byron Bay
A Woolworths spokeswoman added the supermarket is always looking for ways to run our stores more sustainably.
‘Some of our customers have told us they’re keen to bring their own containers for deli, meat and seafood products,’ she told Daily Mail Australia on Monday.
‘We’re engaging closely with food safety and trade measurement authorities on the idea and hope to get a trial up and running soon.’
Woolworths has slashed plastic packaging of fruit and vegetables by 500 tonnes over two years following its nationwide ban on single-use plastic bags in June 2018.
The sale of plastic straws in stores were banned six months later.
Woolworths recently announced it’s planning a trial which will allow shoppers to take home their meat, seafood, and deli purchases home in their own containers (stock image)