One mother of a little girl with an eating disorder spends hours searching the nation for Walkers crisps.
Michelle claims she’s having trouble finding Walkers oven-baked sea salt-flavour crispys for Ava, her 4-year-old daughter.
Walkers has apologized after the product was caught in supply chain issues due to an IT glitch.
The family from Narborough, Leicestershire, rely on the crisps as a staple part of Ava’s diet, as she suffers from a number of conditions, including avoidant or restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), the BBC reports.
Ava, according to her mother can only consume these types of crisps, toastie Waffles, and one type of baby purée. Ava also only drinks sweetened almondmilk and prescription vitamin mixes.
She stated, “When your child depends on food and can’t get it it is really difficult.”
Michelle is from Narborough in Leicestershire with her daughter Ava (four years old). Ava relies on Walkers baked sea salt-flavoured crispys for one meal a day.
‘[Me and my husband]Spend an hour looking around the shops every day in search of crisps. Our extended family is there for us and we are all looking after them.
“The crunch crisps have very little nutritional value but the salt does help. She drinks more.
According to her, the little girl who suffers from developmental conditions, she would rather have her child on a drip than enjoy food that is not good for him.
The couple have had difficulty finding the crispy for nearly a month. After having her favorite snack for five consecutive days, Ava became lethargic.
‘[If she doesn’t have them]It makes her sleepy, and she doesn’t get enough energy to do anything,’ her mother said.
“Our greatest fear is to have to go to the hospital. If we can’t find these crisps, it’s 100% possible.
After suffering from lethargy for five days, Ava’s mom is concerned that Ava might need to be admitted to hospital.
Ava can eat this Walkers brand oven-baked sea salt-flavoured crunch crisps along with toastie waffles or a particular brand of baby purée.
“It makes it very very anxious. It seems that it is so easy for her to do, but she finds this hugely difficult.
Ava’s mom said that children suffering from eating disorders are often drawn to crisps. She also knows of other families who struggle with similar issues.
She stated that there are many who have experienced this, and she was not surprised by the negative reactions.
“This is an eating disorder that is registered. Many people aren’t aware of learning disabilities, autism or sensory eating. There is confusion about it.
Walkers has stated that its supply issues are likely to continue well into December, with priority given to its more popular flagship crisps, such as salt and vinegar and cheese and onion .
According to a spokesperson, “We are trying our best to get the popular products back onto shelves.”
We are sorry about the inconvenience.