A nationwide shortage of Walkers crisps has left a family desperate as their four-year-old child only eats certain snacks due to an eating disorder.
Mum Michelle, from Narborough, Leicestershire, said her daughter Ava suffers from avoidant or restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), a condition for which a person avoids certain foods or types of food.
The little girl only eats Walkers oven-baked sea salt-flavour crisps, toastie waffles, and a specific kind of baby fruit puree, her mum said.
Michelle added that Ava only drinks sweetened almond milk and a prescription vitamin mix.
Walkers, one of the most popular brands of crisps in the UK, has been experiencing supply chain issues that led to supermarket shelves being empty.
The disruption, which began last month, was due to an IT system failure and even though the issue is understood to have been fixed, the knock-on effect has been disrupting supplies.
The Leicester-based company said that the shortage could last until the end of the month with current stock already in short supply.
Michelle said Ava usually eats two packets of crisps a day and once she became lethargic after being without them for five days, BBC News reports.
The mum said she and her husband, as well as their family, visit shops every day to look for the crisps as they are desperate to find some for her daughter.
Michelle said: "When your child relies on a food, and you can't get it, it's really hard."
She added: "There's not a huge nutritional value in the crisps but the salt helps. It makes her drink more."
Ava's mum said that when her daughter does not have crisps, she feels sleepy and does not have much energy.
Michelle said she is feeling anxious as her child loves her favourite crisps, as she explained: "Our big fear is having to go to hospital and if we cannot find these crisps, that's 100% a possibility."
She added that since sharing her story, many people shared nasty and hurtful comments on social media, with some accusing her of poor parenting.
But the mum has encouraged everyone to learn about the eating disorder, which can affect adults as well as children.
The causes of ARFID are unknown but it is thought people develop the disorder because of sensory sensitivity, fear of negative consequences or a lack of interest in eating.
Treatments available include cognitive-behavioural therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, hypnotherapy and eye movement and desensitation and reprocessing therapy (EMDR).
Due to the current shortage, some people started selling single packs of crisps for £7 on eBay, with boxes selling for an eye-watering £123.
Walkers said it is prioritising its most popular crisp flavours, including cheese and onion, ready salted and salt and vinegar, as well as Quavers and Wotsits.
Shoppers have also complained about a lack of Monster Munch and Squares.
The Mirror has contacted Walkers for comment.
