“How could we put this on the shelf?”

An Australian shopper recently witnessed a disturbing scene at a Kmart store in Victoria, sparking a heated debate on social media about hygiene standards and consumer expectations. The controversial topic? Visibly dirty baby products were prominently displayed on store shelves, sparking widespread concern about their suitability for sale.

The incident went viral after the customer, dismayed by her discovery, filmed the scene on TikTok. In the footage, pink silicone cups, baby bowls and bibs can be seen covered in visible dirt and grime.

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The customer expressed her disbelief, exclaiming, “I’m sorry Kmart, but what??? How did we put that on the shelf?” She concluded her video with a baffled “Wow.”

The video quickly circulated online, prompting a flood of reactions from other customers and former Kmart employees. Many were quick to express shock and disapproval, vehemently opposing the sale of such “disgusting” and visibly soiled items.

One netizen expressed his concern bluntly: “Is this item sold as new? Take it in your hands!” Another stated flatly: “I don’t buy visibly dirty items brand new.”

A third added: “These items should be considered rejected and returned. This is so unsanitary, especially considering it’s a baby cup.”

Kmart responds to incident

Kmart has responded to Yahoo Lifestyle Australia regarding the disturbing discovery in their aisles, saying it does not meet the retailer’s usual standards.

A spokesperson confirmed that maintaining high standards is a priority for the company across all its stores.

“The store has since been notified and has resolved the issue,” the spokesperson said.

Mixed reactions

However, others have offered a counter-narrative, including former Kmart employees, who explained that dirt and marks are unfortunately common occurrences when shipping goods.

One former employee commented: “I worked at Kmart and when I unpacked the merchandise it was dirty – unfortunately it happens – things get dirty during shipping, even clothes arrive with marks on them.”

Another Kmart employee agreed: “I can confirm that it gets so dusty that my clothes are disgusting after working on the back dock.”

Others stressed that consumers should expect to wash new items before using them.

“That’s why there’s ‘wash before use’ on the labels,” one commenter said.

One pragmatic buyer also noted: “You wouldn’t even see the difference if someone just wiped it down, it wouldn’t hurt you.”

Debunking Dubious Discounts

Several commenters also speculated that the mugs were on sale due to their dirty condition. However, a quick check of the Kmart website reveals that the entire range is currently on sale, indicating that these dirty items have not been discounted any more than other products in the range, which are presumably clean.

During the debate, the arguments intensified, with supporters of selling lightly soiled items pointing out the environmental impact of simply discarding usable goods.

“Would you rather they all end up in landfill?” one customer asked, while another added: “Don’t waste.”

Another suggested: “You can wash the dishes when they are dirty.”

However, critics remain convinced that hygiene and presentation are important, especially for baby products.

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“It shouldn’t be saleable in this condition.”

Another echoed the general sentiment, saying: “Everyone in the comments is acting like they’re going to buy a dirty item at full price. This is not possible.”

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