Shoppers ask 'is this a joke?' as IKEA investigates meatball smell complaints

Shoppers have been questioning whether IKEA is joking around after it announced it's looking into complaints over packaging smelling like meatballs.

The Swedish furniture giant revealed it is investigating claims 'that the logos on some of our delivery boxes smell of meatballs'.

In a post on Instagram on Monday afternoon, it said reports had been made 'over the last 24 hours' and added: "Please note, that this is highly unlikely, as our delivery boxes and our meatballs are produced in completely separate locations. But Rest assured we are investigating these claims'.

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Thousands of people have responded to the post, many of them asking 'is this a joke?'

"Had to check it wasn’t April 1st!" said one, while another added: "Is this an April Fools? and why are people sniffing the logo on the box anyway!"

It was a question asked by others too, with shoppers quick to make light of the situation.

"My meatballs smell like the logo, can you assist please?" said one, with another adding: "If this isn’t a scratch and sniff advent calendar, I’ll be very disappointed."

A third added: "I’ve gone to smell my Ikea box and I’m thoroughly disappointed that it only smells of tea lights and imminent flatpack sweat."

Titled 'The delivery box situation', other followers described it as ' literally, the weirdest social media post I’ve ever seen'.

And while one questioned whether it's merely 'a marketing ploy', another said she was aware of the complaints.

"I saw quite a few posts on fb from people saying there deliveries smelt of meatballs….. I thought it was a wind up at first lol." she said.