Outrage as Woolies shoppers stack trolleys full of baby formula despite limit

An angry Woolworths shopper has captured the moment a group of customers loaded up three full trolleys of baby formula – despite the store introducing a strict two-can limit per shopper.

Chantel Malthouse shared a video showing the trolleys lined up just outside the store in Kilkenny, Adelaide, with several customers appearing to head in and buy two cans each time, before slowly loading the trolleys up in front of the entrance.

It sparked furious comments from fellow shoppers who claimed the crisis has begun to rob mothers of the chance to buy their own, with many in desperate need of the formula for their babies

“I have seen a lot of things, but this was up there with one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen,” Ms Malthouse is heard saying in the video.

“I saw [them] going in to shop buying two cans of formula at a time putting in trolleys outside the shop then going back in buy two more each time,” she added. “I started filming because it shocked me.”

At one point a male voice, apparently a security guard, can be heard asking Ms Malthouse to stop filming but she defiantly refuses, before asking: “I can video whatever I want mate. What are they doing anyway?”

When he points out that they are “purchasing”, she adds: “They’re purchasing things for overseas, so we run out in Australia.”

It sparked a stream of comments as one Facebook user wrote: “That why it’s hard to buy my daughter formula they need the grovement (sic) to get in to stop it.”

Meanwhile another added: “Not ALL parents need this stuff, but it’s annoying for those who do,” and one wrote: “Why would they want to do such a thing ???? I remembered when my kids were little and I didn’t have any breast milk I struggled to get formula because of these people.”

A Woolies spokesperson confirmed there is still a two-can per person limit and told Starts at 60 in a statement: “We have a two tin transaction limit on baby formula in place and our store teams work hard to ensure customers have access to stock when they need it.

“Baby formula stock was readily available for our customers at our Kilkenny store on Saturday and remains so now.

“We encourage any parents who find their chosen baby formula is unavailable on the shelf to speak with store management, so we can help get them stock as quickly as possible.”

It comes after mothers began sharing their panic a few months ago as they faced not being able to find prescription powders for kids who suffer from milk allergies or intolerances.

Read more: Mums running out of prescription baby formula amid Chinese buyer frenzy

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, some mums were even having to drive hours to find pharmacies with the right formula in stock, as all the stores near their homes were sold out.

Chinese buyers have been hoarding tins of baby formula for years to sell back home for a profit, stripping shelves bare in shops across Australia.

What do you think? Does more need to be done to stop this happening?