Coles puts new limit on milk purchases as panic-buying continues

In an attempt to prevent panic buying and to ensure everyone has access to essentials, Coles has implemented a limit on milk, adding it to a growing list of restricted items.

Starting Wednesday, customers will be restricted to two items of milk per customer.

“From today Coles supermarkets and Coles Express will limit the sale of Coles Brand and branded chilled milk, including all sizes of white dairy milk, plant-based non-dairy and goats milk sold chilled in our dairy fridges to two per customer,” Coles announced on Facebook.

Coles has continued to update customers on Facebook surrounding the coronavirus pandemic and how that has impacted the supermarket.

The supermarket said the purchasing limits are to improve the availability for customers.

As it stands, each customer can only purchase one pack of toilet paper per transaction.

Like milk, pasta, flour, dry rice, paper towels, paper tissues, hand sanitisers, mince meat (including beef, pork, lamb, chicken and turkey), eggs, chilled pasta, frozen vegetables and frozen desserts are limited to two items per customer.

“We will also be introducing some additional limits on certain items in each store,” Coles said on their customer notice page, which is dedicated to giving information related to the coronavirus pandemic.

“These can vary between stores, so please visit your local Coles for more information.”

• 'I feel sad watching this': Wild scenes at Woolworths as elderly queue at dawn

• Coles' dramatic online shopping move amid buying frenzy

• 'Elderly people pushed aside': Pensioner reveals the horror of going to the supermarket

Also starting today is a new Community Hour. From Monday to Friday, 7am to 8am, Coles will open its doors across Australia for elderly customers and those who need assistance.

To gain entry, customers must present a government-issued Pensioner Concession Card, Companion Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, Health Care Card, Seniors Card or Disability card.

“Store managers will use sensible discretion and compassion to ensure vulnerable customers who require access are able to complete their shopping during Community Hour,” Coles said.

In some Coles stores security guards have been tasked with handing out toilet paper.

• How many cases of coronavirus are there in Australia?

• What does coronavirus self-isolation involve?

• What are the coronavirus symptoms and how does it spread?

• How do you get tested for coronavirus?

• Coronavirus shuts down major events

The dedicated shopping hour has also been implemented at Woolworths, and yesterday marked the first day of such an event.

One customer told Yahoo News Australia: "It was almost like a sick joke".

Woolworths said there was some positive feedback from around Australia, but acknowledged it “wasn’t perfect” with many people missing out on essential items.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.