One Coles shopper has divided the internet after sharing a photo of a packet of lamb cutlets slapped with a security tag.

Critics say such measures wouldn't be needed if meat wasn't so expensive, while others have defended the supermarket chain for trying to stop shoplifting.

Watch the video above

The shopper from New South Wales shared the find in a closed Facebook group, writing "the things retailers have to do to stop theft and protect profit".

The photo shows a packet of Australian lamb cutlets valued at $30, with an electronic article surveillance tag in the top left corner.

The post has received more than 550 comments, with arguments on both sides.

A Coles shopper shared with image on social media: "The things retailers have to do to stop theft and protect profit." Credit: Facebook

One user said: "Well if it wasn’t so expensive it wouldn’t be a target!"

"It's a sad situation when people of Australia need to steal meat due to the prices," said another shopper.

More on 7NEWS.com.au

One former Coles employee even weighed in and revealed she often found empty steak and lamb packets stashed in aisles.

"People had opened them and put the meat in fresh produce bags to avoid the security tags on the meat. It's crazy," she said.

Others were similarly empathetic, arguing some stores lose "hundreds of thousands of dollars per week" to theft.

Shoplifting

The tags, like most security measures, raise an alarm when they're removed from the store before purchasing.

A Coles spokesman told 7NEWS.com.au: “While the large majority of our customers do the right thing, it’s not fair that a small number of people get away with doing the wrong thing."

The spokesman said electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags are one of a range of security measures it has in place to reduce theft.

Coles isn't the only supermarket taking extreme measures.

Security tag attached to Woolworths lamb cutlets. Credit: Supplied

Another shopper snapped the same security tag on a package of Woolworths' lamb cutlets.

7NEWS.com.au has reached out to Woolworths for comment.