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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Alison Rourke

Bunnings hits snag with 'ridiculous' sausage sizzle safety rule

Sausages
Bunnings’ chief operating officer said ‘safety is always our No 1 priority’ when recommending onion be placed underneath sausages. Photograph: Julian Smith/AAP

Sausage before onion or onion before sausage? It’s one of the key decisions Australians will not be making this weekend after Bunnings told all groups staffing the stores’ barbecues to put the onions on first.

“Safety is always our No 1 priority and we recently introduced a suggestion that onion be placed underneath sausages to help prevent the onion from falling out and creating a slipping hazard,” said Bunnings’ chief operating officer, Debbie Poole.

The “friendly recommendation” has been provided in the “sausage sizzle welcome pack” to community and charity groups that run the fundraisers. The recommendation is also now on display within the gazebos when barbecues are operating at many of Bunnings’ 290 stores.

But disbelief ran hot on social media. Some questioned the danger of a fallen slice of onion. Others wondered whether the sausage was more of a slip hazard. And what about the sauce?

Some pointed out that at least the traditional items needed for a furious protesting mob would be readily available.

Debate also spilled into equally passionate arguments about how well the bread holds in the contents.

This seemed to be less of a dilemma in Western Australia where Bunnings sausages are often served in a roll, rather than a slice of bread.

Thousands of community groups and charities apply to run sausage sizzles at Bunnings stores each weekend. The groups provide the sausages, with Bunnings requiring them to signpost what is on the menu. All money raised goes directly to the group manning the hotplates. Bunnings provides the barbecue and gas.

Bunnings said it was confident the onion recommendation would not affect the experience.

“Regardless of how you like your onion and snag, we are confident this new serving suggestion will not impact the delicious taste or great feeling you get when supporting your local community group,” Poole said.

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