Coles shoppers divided over new meat pies with tomato sauce inside

The iconic meat pie has been given a saucy upgrade — but not all shoppers are pleased about it.

A newly-launched Coles range of beef meat pies featuring tomato sauce on the inside is dividing critics, with pie purists dubbing the creation "un-Australian".

The home brand 'Tomato Sauce Pies' come in a two-pack, and include a layer of tomato sauce on top of the minced meat and just below the pastry lid.

The pies retail for $5 for two, or $2.50 each, and feature the tagline on the packaging: "We've added the sauce so you don't have to!"

Shoppers have been clashing on Facebook over the self-saucing pie, with comments ranging from "dirty as" to "that's what I'm talking about".

One user likened the creation to the outrageous act of "eating a pie w a fork and knife [sic]".

"Oooh not sure how I feel," another critic agreed, with a third weighing in: "Half the fun is burning your fingers trying to get the lid off to put the sauce in, no thanks."

Others felt the amount of sauce pictured on the pies was stingy.

"Not enough sauce!" one shopper wrote.

"You will still put sauce on top," one user added, with another agreeing: "I wager they won't be filled like the picture on the packet!!"

Some Facebook critics felt baking the tomato sauce inside the pie defeated the purpose of sauce in the first place.

"Yeah look the cold sauce helps ease the burning of the meat as it explodes out the back," one shopper wrote.

Another critic agreed, calling it "Un-Australian".

"Cold sauce helps relieve the pain of burning the roof of your mouth when you bite into it."