A Coles shopper was shocked when he discovered that his local supermarket was selling a popular fruit for an exorbitant amount.

The customer, known as Samuel, posted on Coles’ Facebook page showing photographic evidence of the price of pre-packaged red birdseye chillies. The tag was clearly marked $175 per kilogram.

In comparison, the same chillies were being sold loose for a mere $28/kg – an insane discount of $147.

Robbery!

“Would someone like to try their hardest to justify the price difference and the $175kg for birdseye chilli?,” Samuel ranted.

“It’s plain robbery at that price. $147kg for that packaging,” he added.

Coles Explains

A Coles spokesperson explained to New Idea Food that a range of factors went into the enormous ticket price.

These factors include: “transportation costs, manufacturing changes and stock availability.”

“There is customer demand for prepacked chillies and the additional labour and packaging requirements mean that they come at an additional cost,” the supermarket said.

“We will continue to offer customers a choice between loose and pre-packed chillies.”

I guess it’s a good thing that chillies don’t weigh that much.

Should You Stay Away From Pre-Packaged Fruit And Veggies?

In general, it seems that pre-packed fruit and vegetables are significantly more expensive than the loose variety.

Another example is salmon – From the deli when it’s not on special it’s $30 a kilo whereas on the shelf it’s $48 a kilo.

Loose mushrooms are also almost always cheaper than the plastic packaged mushrooms. However, a mushroom expert has warned that a few difference in dollars could mean fresher produce.

“I actually work in the mushroom industry and I would buy pre-packaged ones. They are picked and packed on the same day as the boxes and no one has touched them.”

“If you watch people, they rummage through the box looking for a good mushroom which causes damage and bruising to them, and you’re not meant to wash mushrooms. So unless you like everyone else’s cooties, buy pre-packaged.”

Why Are Chillies A Fruit?

Just in case you’re saying to yourself – “this writer is ridiculous – don’t they know a chilli is a vegetable?”

Well, in actual fact chillies have internal, edible seeds which class it as a fruit. Other so-called vegetables that are fruit include: tomatoes, zucchini, okra, and eggplant.

Do you tend to buy loose or pre-packed fruit, vegetables and deli items? Tell us in the comments below.