Supermarket giant Coles has imposed major restrictions on the sale of a popular kitchen item in dozens of stores, amid fears for the safety of shoppers and staff.
The Smeg knife range, which can currently be redeemed via Flybuys points, has been withdrawn from 26 stores across Australia in a major move to tackle crime.
The items have been banned from 24 Coles stores in Victoria, one each in Queensland and NSW.
It follows the example of supermarket rival Woolworths, which pulled knives from 350 stores across the country after a stabbing at the checkout of a Melbourne store in 2021.
Coles spokeswoman Martine Alpins said the supermarket giant takes the welfare of its customers seriously.
“Safety is the number one priority when it comes to our team members and of course our customers,” Ms. Alpins said. 7 News.
“We’re hearing from our team members, we’re hearing from the community that they would rather not have them [Smeg knives range] in those stores due to special incidents that occurred.’
She urged other retailers to consider whether selling the items reflects the safety concerns the community has about knives.
The Smeg knife range (pictured) has been banned from 24 stores in Victoria, while the products are also not being sold in some stores in Queensland and NSW
“They are available at many retailers across Australia and they should be available, but I think it’s important that retailers are aware of what’s going on,” Ms Alpins said.
Some buyers were happy with the measure, while others labeled it an ‘overreaction’.
Meanwhile, Aldi says it is following the rules when selling special purchase knives to customers.
Australia has been rocked by major incidents involving individuals using knives, putting the safety of shoppers at risk.
The Smeg knife range has also been withdrawn from Coles in Sydney’s Westfield Bondi Junction.
Six people – five women and a male security guard – were killed in April when Joel Cauchi carried out a stabbing attack in the busy Westfield in the east of the city.
A nine-month-old girl was among 12 others stabbed before the knifeman was shot dead by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott.
Some shoppers supported the move to ban the item from supermarkets, while others branded the decision an ‘overreaction’ (photo from a Coles store).
A man aged 60 and a security guard were allegedly stabbed by a man at a Woolworths store in Barkly Square, in Brunswick, in Melbourne’s north, in October 2021.
Woolworths announced at the time that they would be temporarily removing knives and scissors from stores across the country – a move that has since become permanent across 350 stores.
Queensland and Victoria have the strictest knife laws in Australia.
Knives may not be sold to anyone under the age of 18 in the Sunshine State.
Anyone caught with a knife in a public place could be put behind bars or fined $5,750.
Someone caught carrying a knife can be jailed for up to a year in Victoria.
Selling a knife to someone under the age of 18 carries a fine of up to $46,154 or a prison sentence of two years.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Coles, Woolworths and Aldi for further comment.