A woman felt exasperated after going in person to get baby formula at Walmart, only to find them all locked behind a case. The worst part? She had to wait until a worker put each container of formula in an anti-theft case.
In a video with more than 1.1 million views, Na’ima Rasool (@therealnaimarasool) agonized over the difficulty she faced when trying to get an everyday item: baby formula at Walmart. Recently, the shopping center has come under fire for putting “everything” under lock and key in attempts to prevent theft. When Rasool arrived at her local Walmart, an employee had to put the product she was looking for into individual lockable cases. She wasn’t allowed to just grab one and take it to the register.
Why lock baby formula away?
For many people, household essentials like baby formula are a regular part of their grocery list. But that also means it’s an item many people have to steal in order to provide for their families. As one commenter put it, “Unfortunately, this is what happens when stuff like skin care, body care, baby items, personal care, electronics, etc., are stolen and they’re put behind cases. I don’t have time for that. I wanted to buy a face wash a while ago and I’m not gonna wait for an employee to unlock the case.”
Household products—skin care items, cleaning products, laundry detergent—as well as other goods like underwear and socks are commonly locked away. Formula is generally expensive, and therefore common for people to steal as well.
Why is Walmart locking up everything?
Walmart also recently increased anti-theft policies in 2025, which have had mixed results with its customer base.
One commenter wrote, “Blame the people that are stealing… [Walmart employees] lock up everything now,” which raises the question: what’s the use of having every item locked?
Many consumers are turning to online shopping for that very reason. They the lack of trust that retailers have as a reason to avoid going in person altogether. According to Smart Insights, convenience and price comparison are the two primary reasons people have turned away from stores.
One user wrote, “Try ordering online, Walmart has next-day delivery if you didn’t need it that day. Most of the time I always keep a spare container so I’ve never [been] completely out. Next-day delivery is perfect.”
Other commenters mentioned grocery stores like Kroger as an alternative that doesn’t lock away common, everyday items.
@therealnaimarasool All I wanted was some baby formula. I can't make this stuff up. #baby #babyformula #babyfood #motherhood #boymom #babyboy #memorialday #happymemorialday #newborn #5months ♬ Oh No – Kreepa
The Mary Sue has reached out to Walmart via email and Rasool via TikTok direct message for comment.
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