Zara removes children’s T-shirt after complaining it was sexually ‘suggestive’

Zara has removed a children’s T-shirt from sale after mothers called it sexually “suggestive” on TikTok.

The white T-shirt reads “the perfect snack” and “the strawberry: a little burst of sweet joy.” On the back are two halves of a strawberry, one on the inside and one on the outside, with the words “Take a bite” and “An explosion of sweet joy making it the perfect summer snack” and “The strawberry: a small one.” Outburst of joy.”

According to Oxford Languages, a “snack” is a slang term used to describe a person who is sexually attractive.

TikToker Laura Wilson came across the item while browsing the store at Bluewater Shopping Center in Kent on Saturday, August 10.

“I’m not one to be overly sensitive about clothing, and that was in the girls’ section. Just wait until you see what it says on the back. If you bought this for your child, I think you need some serious words with yourself.

“I’m so shocked. “Take a bite,” is it just me? Or is that just not right? I would never wear my girls in that shirt.”

She further explained why she felt the garment was unsuitable for children.

“It’s very suggestive. “That shirt was for a six- to seven-year-old and I don’t think that’s OK,” she said, according to the newspaper Daily Mail.

“Where it says ‘The perfect snack’, it’s very suggestive. They say, “It’s a snack,” and that certainly suggests an attraction. That’s how I took it anyway.

“Some people just say it’s just strawberries and they just talk about strawberries, but the wording on top: I would never let my daughter walk around with ‘Take a Bite’ written on the back of her T-shirt.

“The majority completely agree that the t-shirt is very suggestive, disgusting and dark and not suitable for a child.”

Others were confused as they commented: “I don’t understand what’s going on?”

Wilson hit back: “Are you a mother of little girls?”

Another commented: “It’s literally just a strawberry.”

“The perfect snack” and “grab a bite”… isn’t just a strawberry. It’s extremely suggestive for a child to wear,” the TikToker replied.

A Zara spokesperson said: “It was not intended for the word ‘snack’ on this t-shirt to imply anything other than the traditional meaning of the word, as shown by the image of a strawberry on the garment.”

“However, we now understand that some people have interpreted the term differently.

“We have therefore removed the t-shirt from stores and our website and apologize for any misunderstanding or offense.”

In response to the t-shirt being pulled, Wilson commented, “They should!!!” It’s unnecessary language for a kid’s t-shirt!”

She continued: “I didn’t reach out to Zara because for a second I thought maybe I was overthinking it and being an overprotective person, and maybe I’m too overprotective, but I’ve posted things online on T before -Shirts seen I didn’t see the problem.”