Woolworths has introduced its harshest restrictions yet on what shoppers can buy.
Supermarkets across Australia have been under pressure to prevent people unnecessarily stockpiling essential groceries during the coronavirus pandemic.
A statement from the supermarket giant read: "As the situation continues to evolve, we've made some further changes to the maximum number of products customers can buy, in addition to any other limits already in place.
"There is now a per customer, per shop limit of two items from any single category on most packaged products across Woolworths Supermarkets and Metro stores and online.
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"This means customers will only be able to buy two products from any single included category, regardless of the brand or variety. There are some exceptions where no limits remain, such as fruit and vegetables, fresh milk and baby food."
Woolies said other items that have no limit include meat (excluding mince), seafood, items from the deli and bakery, fresh milk, canned fish and drinks.
You'll be able to buy as much animal food as you need as well as Easter confectionary and merchandise.
The supermarket chain will continue to uphold its limit of one packet of antibacterial wipes, baby wipes, paper towels, rice (2kg and above), serviettes and toilet paper per customer.
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People are being assured that there isn't an issue with stock running out, just that it is difficult to get stock to each store when people panic buy.
Brad Banducci, the CEO of the Woolworths group, told ABC Radio: "We have enough product in Australia to feed all of our customers.
"What we're experiencing at the moment is [not] the equivalent of feeding 24 million Australians, but trying to feed 50 million Australians and that's where the issue lies.
"If we all buy what we need and treat our team with respect we will rapidly get back into full supply or 99 per cent of supply of most of the products our customers have come to enjoy."
The new shopping limits are some of the biggest introduced in Australia, with Coles and Aldi also making changes to their store policies.
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People at Aldi will now only be able to buy one pack of toilet paper and two packs of pasta, flour, rice (rule excludes microwavable rice), paper towels, tissues and hand sanitiser.
Aldi Australia's CEO Tom Daunt said: "Quite frankly, we won't tolerate anything less. We understand your concerns, but buying more than is needed can mean that others will be left without.
"The increase in violence that retailers have seen over the past few weeks is absolutely unacceptable.
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"We would ask everyone to be considerate and compassionate in the way they shop."
Coles meantime has restricted the sale of the following items to two per customer: chilled milk (which includes all sizes of white dairy milk, plant-based non-dairy & goats milk sold chilled in our dairy fridges), eggs, chilled pasta, frozen vegetables and frozen desserts, mince, pasta, flour, dry rice, paper towels, paper tissues and hand sanitisers on its list.
Toilet paper is still limited to one pack per customer.
Featured Image Credit: Matthew Paul Argall (Flickr)Topics: News, coronavirus, Australia
