A mum has sparked a heated online debate after feeding her daughter peanut butter in a supermarket.
The mum in question revealed that she was accosted by a stranger for exposing peanuts in public after they saw her four-year-old daughter eating a peanut butter and jam sandwich while sitting in a shopping trolley.
‘Has it become unacceptable to eat peanut butter in public?’ she asked on the public forum, UrbanBaby.
‘[Daughter] was eating a PB&J at a store today, and a woman stopped me to lecture me about peanut allergies.’
But the responses she received probably weren’t what she had in mind when she posted her question – as she was met with disapproval and a barrage of mum-shaming.
One said: ‘That's really inconsiderate So many kids have life threatening allergies to peanut butter. Eating it in a shopping cart GUARANTEES it will be smeared on the handle, etc. Its really awful you would do this. Sorry, but imagine if it were your child with the allergy.’
Another added: ‘You feed your child in a shopping cart? That is disgusting! Your problem is much bigger than the peanut butter!’
While another harshly moaned: ‘Your total disdain for the safety of other kids is awful. Feeding your kid a PB&J in a shopping cart is the epitome of low brow’.
And a fourth said: ‘That's actually kind of lousy of you. You are aware that kids with peanut allergies exist in the world, so it's kind of a [bad] move to let your kid smear peanut butter all over the child seat of a public cart.’
But there were a few parents who defended the mum, pointing out that it is not her responsibility to worry about other people's allergies.
One said: ‘The [original poster] has no responsibility to any other child than her own! If somebody is so worried about allergies, then they need to put their kids in a backpack or a bubble.’
Another added: ‘As an allergy mom whose kids had 9 anaphylactic allergies, I agree!! No one should have to watch what they eat because of my kid's allergies.’
And a third said: ‘Some of these turkeys have too much time on there hands to whine over some little girl eating a PB&J sandwich. Maybe she was hungry, the mother took care of her and also went the extra step by making sure she was clean and she also wiped the cart down. Thank you for being a Great Mother.’
