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A mum has revealed how she was left in tears at the supermarket checkout after being 'shamed' by a member of staff.
TikToker Samantha said she had never felt 'so judged' after she finished her shop at Tesco this week.
The mum explained she had gone shopping with her little boy Jack, who had been poorly and off his food for the best part of a week.
Every parent will know that when your baby has lost their appetite, you'll try anything to encourage them to eat.
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So when Samantha's son Jack picked up a pouch of baby food and a yoghurt from the trolley, she opened it for him and let him tuck in.
But when she approached the checkout, the member of staff behind the till was far from impressed.
Samantha explained: “I've never felt in one moment, so judged by somebody. And I'll be honest, I snapped, and I very rarely snap back at anybody.
"So basically we went to Tesco to get a few bits. Jack's not been very well. He's not eating for basically a week, pretty much properly.
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“And on the way round the food shop, I bring snacks with us. He wasn't interested in any of the snacks that I bought. He took a shine to one of these baby pouches that I put in the trolley."
Samantha explained that she let Jack eat the pouch, as well as a yoghurt which he also fancied during the shop.
She kept the packaging and passed it to the checkout assistant first, so that they could be scanned.
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"I didn't want to just leave them amongst the shopping," she said.
But the member of staff was 'disgusted' and threw them straight in the bin.
“They weren't actually finished. I hadn't passed them to her to have them put in the bin. I passed them to her to try and be polite so they could be scanned," Samantha continued.
After explaining this to the staff member, Samantha says she started tutting and huffing about the situation.
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"I haven't meant to upset you or put you out. I just passed them to you because I wanted to make sure you could scan them, and I just wanted to let you know that we'd had them on the way around so that you understood,'" Samantha told her.
But the mum was left gutted when the cashier explained she didn't think it was 'right' to let kids eat from the food shop on their way around.
Samantha explained that the member of staff had 'pushed her mum button' and she ended up bursting into tears, telling her: “‘I don't really think it is your job to be giving your opinion on what you think. My child is really unwell'."
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The mum explained that once the cashier saw that she was so upset, she gave a 'half apology' explaining that she was sorry her little boy was poorly and that she had been there herself.
Samantha explained she wanted to take further action, but needed to rush off to the doctors.
After sharing her experience on TikTok, followers were hugely divided.
Some sympathised with Samantha, with one writing: "I always let my son eat on the way round! Crisps, sandwich, yogurt, drinks! Couldn’t care less, he’s happy!"
And another said: "From a former Tesco employee we’re literally told to be kind in these situations. As long as she’s honest and pays for it, it shouldn’t be a big deal."
However, others were more understanding of the cashier, with many feeling that she wasn't in the wrong at all.
One wrote: "You are absolutely in the wrong. Tesco isn't an all you can eat buffet."
And another said: "I agree with Tesco on this one. Especially if you're not carrying cash... if your card declines and you can't pay it's definitely theft. Pay then eat."
What do you think?
LADbible Group has contacted Tesco for comment.
Lucy Devine