Zara has withdrawn a £10.99 children’s t-shirt from sale after a mother raised concerns about its sexually suggestive design.
Laura Wilson, 32, from Bromley in south London, spotted the white top at the retailer’s Bluewater Shopping Centre branch. The shirt featured a picture of a strawberry with the words: ‘The perfect snack, take a bite.’
The clothing chain had been marketing the shirt for children as young as six. Zara has since apologised, saying they did not mean to cause offence.
Ms Wilson shared her objections on TikTok in a post that has gained thousands of views.
She said: “I went in for a browse and saw this t-shirt and all I saw was 'the perfect snack'. I was instantly taken back by that.
“I read the other side and thought okay. I didn't think it could get any worse but when I turned it round, it said 'take a bite'.
“I would never have my children in something like that. I thought it was suggestive.
“I turned round to my partner and asked him if I was reading this right and he agreed that it was awful.”
Ms Wilson added that she didn’t want to be considered an overprotective parent but felt a duty to call out what she thought was wrong.
“I put the TikTok up to get other people's opinion on it and it's very clear that other people have thought the same as me in these circumstances,” she said.
The word ‘snack’ can be taken to mean an “attractive female,” according to the Urban Dictionary. Another definition states: “Someone looks so good you could eat them, not in an innocent way.”
A Zara spokesperson said: “There was no intention for the use of the word 'snack' on this t-shirt to imply anything other than the traditional meaning of the word, as evidenced by the image of a strawberry on the garment.
“However, we now understand that some individuals have interpreted the term differently.
“Therefore, we have removed the t-shirt from stores and our website and we apologise for any misunderstanding or offence caused.”
