Shoppers across Australia have expressed their fury and disbelief after a children's toy sold at Kmart was found branded with a number widely considered to be deeply inappropriate and offensive.
The product, a simple building block set, features a large, prominent number '10' on its packaging. The discovery was made by a sharp-eyed customer who immediately took to social media to voice their concerns, triggering a wave of backlash from other parents.
A Storm of Social Media Outrage
The controversy erupted when a shopper shared an image of the product on a popular Facebook group dedicated to Kmart bargains. The post quickly went viral, amassing thousands of comments from disgusted parents.
Many labelled the item 'disgusting', 'vile', and 'absolutely appalling', questioning how such a product could pass through the retailer's quality control and ethical checks. Comments flooded in demanding that Kmart issue an immediate apology and pull the product from all its stores nationwide.
Kmart's Response
Faced with a mounting public relations crisis, a spokesperson for Kmart Australia addressed the issue. The company stated that the product's branding was entirely unintentional and a complete coincidence, expressing regret for any unintended offence caused to their customers.
They emphasised that the number was simply part of a numerical learning range for children and assured shoppers that the product is now under urgent review. However, for many angry parents, this response has been deemed too little, too late.
A Pattern of Problems?
This incident is not the first time Kmart Australia has found itself at the centre of a product-related scandal. The retail giant has previously faced criticism over other items, leading some to question the robustness of its product approval process.
The sheer speed and intensity of the public reaction highlight the growing power of consumer advocacy in the age of social media, where a single post can ignite a national firestorm and force a corporate giant to reconsider its actions.
