As Canadians feel the pinch of rising food inflation and soaring living costs, grocery giants like Loblaws continue to be slammed with criticism from all angles, from staggering profits raked in by shareholders to outrageously priced products and, in the latest case, the quality of its items.

Ottawa resident, @_Rich_Coffey, recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a rather disturbing image of a product he recently purchased at a Loblaws location in Ontario. 

Hey @LoblawsON,

Look I get that when it’s marked down it’s not going to be the “freshest” product but like can you at least make sure it isn’t completely covered in mould before you sell it? pic.twitter.com/iMfOGSFkAS

— Richard Coffey (@_Rich_Coffey) March 3, 2024

As noted by Coffey, the Pacific salmon pie he purchased from the supermarket chain was covered in mould, and was reportedly put on store shelves despite being past its best-before date. 

While many agreed that shoppers shouldn't expect the freshest quality when purchasing discounted items, they also maintained that similar products — which are very obviously spoiled — shouldn't be sold at all. 

It's pretty clearly a mistake (and I didn't even notice that it was like two weeks over so partially on me for not checking)

I'm mostly mad cause I was hoping to have it tonight and thus got a pretty nasty surprise lol

— Richard Coffey (@_Rich_Coffey) March 4, 2024

"Like I get it's hard to tell if it’s in a box but like how long did they have to leave it out for it to go completely mouldy," Coffey wrote on X. 

Bro that’s ridiculous. Horrible look for Loblaws

— Evan Davis (@evandavis5303) March 4, 2024

"That's wretched. I think that's employee error — it's best before February 13th. They can't sell anything past it's best before date. That needed to be binned weeks ago," one person wrote under the post.

Galen has to get those profits somehow!

— Allan Etmanski (@allanetmanski) March 4, 2024

"I often take full advantage of the 50 per cent products, but this is just crazy. This is why I always check the best before dates," another comment reads. 

yucky...hopefully you can get a refund

— Perry DeNure (@CoachPerry59) March 4, 2024

The shocking find comes amid a significant rise in the company's earnings and sales during the fourth quarter of 2023, as well as its plan to open dozens of new stores nationwide and renovate hundreds of other locations. 

The Westons, who are owners of George Weston Ltd. which in turn owns Loblaws Companies Ltd., also made international headlines recently after the amounts they earned in dividends were revealed. 

According to The Times, George Weston CEO Galen Weston Jr. and co. took in roughly $45.2 million CAD thanks to its Toronto-based investment arm, Wittington Investments, which witnessed "soaring profits."