13 September 2023 , 12:11
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A mum warned other parents after discovering the explicit adult link to the My Little Pony biscuits she bought her children.
The unsuspecting mum bought her children the 'My Little Pony - Mini Biscotti' snack Sunday from Heron in Greatfield Estate in Hull. When she noticed a link printed on the back of the package she searched it and was horrified to lead to a website filled with Chinese pornography. After discussing with other parents, she discovered that this product range, manufactured by 'Appy Kids Co.', was being sold at Heron stores across Hull and East Yorkshire. Heron has since confirmed that these products have been removed from their shelves.
These are biscuits that contained the printed linkAdding to the concern, it was revealed that Lidl had recalled the same product with a Paw Patrol theme last month due to a similar issue. This has led many to question why Heron allowed the product to remain on their shelves for so long.
The outraged mum told Hull Live: "I'm furious that children can access this. All it takes is a kid to type that web address in and their innocence would be destroyed." She added: "I wouldn't wish that conversation on anyone - parents need to know about this because they are perfect for kids' lunchboxes. I can't bear thinking about it going into schools where so many children could access it."
She expressed her disappointment in Heron's delayed action and said: "It is not okay that these products were still available." Public records have unveiled that the URL domain printed on the packaging is currently under the ownership of an individual residing in Lianyungang, China. Interestingly, this domain was previously linked to the manufacturer of the My Little Pony products, a subsidiary of Appy Food and Drinks known as Appy Kids Co.
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According to listings on the Companies House website, Appy Food and Drinks ceased operations in June 2022. Lidl's recall notice cryptically referred to the URL as being 'compromised'.
A spokesperson for Heron Foods addressed the issue, stating: "We've been working with the supplier to ensure this product is recalled across all our stores nationwide. Customers should return the products to their nearest Heron Foods store for a full refund."
A notice posted on Lidl's website in August concerning the Paw Patrol version of the products reads: "Lidl GB is recalling the above-mentioned branded product as we have been made aware that the URL of the supplier which is featured on the back of the packaging has been compromised and is being directed to a site that is not suitable for child consumption." The consumer organisation Which? also shared details of the recall. The Mirror contacted Heron Foods for a comment.
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]