Woolworths shoppers are threatening to ‘boycott’ the supermarket chain after discovering deli meat offcuts were being sold. 

A customer shared a picture of the ‘Meat Pieces Mixed’,  which cost NZ$15 per kilo (A$13.70) at an Auckland store.

The tray shows an assortment of cold deli meat scraps and ‘end pieces’ from frankfurts, salami, chunks of ham, roast beef and more.

‘Recession indicator?’ the customer said in a Reddit thread, alongside the picture. 

The post attracted hundreds of comments once the picture circulated on social media, with many people expressing their outrage at seeing the unappealing tray of leftovers.

A Woolworths New Zealand spokeswoman confirmed to Daily Mail the meat pieces were then withdrawn from sale.

‘A tray of mixed meat pieces sold at Woolworths Metro in Auckland has now been removed from our delicatessen,’ the Woolworths NZ spokesperson said. 

‘We occasionally sell the ends of our sliced meat products to minimize food waste and prevent them from ending up in landfills. However, in this case, we misjudged the situation. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.’

Woolworths shoppers are threatening to ‘boycott’ the supermarket chain after discovering what appear to be deli meat offcuts being sold

Besides looking unappetizing, the price left online commenters surprised, considering Woolworths acknowledged these offcuts were typically discarded.

‘As a butcher at a small independent store, I find this absolutely disgraceful and a blatant rip-off. Although it’s technically still protein, even if it’s low quality, people might still purchase it due to the high cost of decent meat. The price is outrageous. Support your local butcher instead,’ one person fumed.

‘Can’t believe this is real,’ another said in disbelief.

‘Boycott. Actually disgusting,’ one suggested. 

‘The audacity to sell waste is honestly wild,’ another added. 

Some pointed out that such offcuts could be sold as pet food but the deli section was not the place for it.

However, Woolworths is not alone in selling such a product, with other deli workers and butchers saying they did the same.

‘It was always the leftover pieces from things that weren’t sold every second day and the end pieces of ham that were sliced,’ one revealed. 

A New Zealand customer posted a contentious photo of the ‘Meat Pieces Mixed,’ priced at NZ$15 per kilo (A$13.70) at a store in Auckland (stock image).

‘I work in a deli in South Australia, and we do the same thing to reduce waste. However, including that sausage is just wrong,’ another commented.

‘It’s mainly just the offcuts from the slicer that you can’t normally sell because they don’t “look good”. Not really any different than the ugly odd-bunch vegetables you can get for cheaper. It’d just go in the bin otherwise,’ one revealed. 

Some vouched for the product, saying they ‘grew up’ eating deli scraps as a ‘snack’.

‘Totally normal here in Tasmania, we all eat this almost every day. It’s basically a traditional lunch/brunch. It’s what we all got brought up on in school. Love it. We call it meaty mix,’ one shared. 

‘I remember getting this sort of mix as a kid in Queensland. It was called “end mix” and was exactly that… I think I’m for it,’ another revealed. 

Many were not ‘offended’ by the tray, with one suggesting: ‘What’s wrong with it? Looks delicious, way more convenient than buying each cut of meat individually.

‘Meat ends are the best. Omg,’ one said.

‘I get it all the time from Woolworths, I’m in New Zealand, great for snacking on. Why waste the meat?’ another revealed. 

‘This was a poor household dream. Lived on this as a kid growing up in South Auckland,’ one shared.

‘This is actually genius. Cheap and you get a whole mix of stuff for sandwiches and all sorts. Problem is how do they keep track of dates for the different meats? Unless it’s done one day and written down and kept track of,’ another explained. 

‘They definitely do this in NZ… My little sister absolutely loves it, it’s like a meat party mix to her. Once they had the meat scraps cubed up like dice and she nearly cried,’ one added.