Major supermarkets have reassured customers there are no milk shortages or buying limits as a strike by Victorian dairy workers enters its second day.

It comes amid reports that some Melbourne supermarkets are restricting purchases of milk.

More than 1400 workers from dairy producers Fonterra, Saputo, Lactalis and Peters are striking for 48 hours as they demand better pay and conditions.

The processing staff at 13 regional and metro sites started their industrial action on Wednesday.

News Corp publications reported on Thursday that customers at some grocery stores in Melbourne were being limited to buying only two botles of milk amid concerns of a shortage.

‘Limit on milk is 2 units per customer. Thank you for understanding during the milk short,’ a sign at the IGA in Murrumbeena, in Melbourne’s south-east, reportedly read.

Owner Karen Meredith told the Herald Sun the supermarket had been “absolutely slammed” on Wednesday with shoppers buying up bigger quantities.

‘We got caught out with the toilet paper thing in COVID so we thought it was reasonable to just put a limit on,’ she said.

Coles and Woolworths said there no shortages of milk at their supermarkets. Neither company had plans to introduce buying limits.

“We are continuing to work closely with our suppliers to help ensure milk is available to our customers,” a Coles spokeswoman said on Thursday.

A Woolworths spokesman said any potential impacts would be limited to Victorian stores but said the company had taken steps to ensure no significant effect on supply.

“We’re in close contact with our Victorian milk supplier and we’re working on contingency plans to minimise any potential disruption to our customers,” Woolworths said.

Fonterra said on Thursday it was continuing to collect and deliver milk from dairy farmers amid the strike action.

“We executed our business contingency plans successfully,” supply chain and operations director Rob Howell said.

“Our primary focus was to ensure that all of our farmers’ milk was collected and ready to turn into dairy products that our customers love.”

The United Workers Union claims major dairy producers have failed to offer striking workers fair wages and conditions amid rising living costs.

Workers also want paid emergency service leave so volunteer Country Fire Authority workers can address natural disasters when required.

“You can’t run a dairy processing plant if all the dairy farms are burnt out,” UWU national secretary Tim Kennedy said.

“Emergency service leave is one of the reasons these workers are on strike – because they know how important their volunteering during emergencies is to others in their regional community.”

Howell said Fonterra’s focus remained on negotiating in good faith with its workers.

Peters Ice Cream was also willing and open to continuing negotiations, a spokesman said.

“Peters offers the best employment conditions in the ice-cream industry, paying its factory workers 70 to 80 per cent above award,” it said.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan urged all parties to go back to the negotiating table and said there was no need to panic buy.

“I believe there has been some movement overnight on some of the negotiations between the parties,” she said.

“But I am also advised that there doesn’t need to be any panic buying, that there is sufficient supply, as the diary industry has been preparing for this potential disruption.”

Saputo, Peters and Lactalis have been approached for comment.

-with AAP