Mom Slammed for Calling Parents 'Snobby' for Avoiding Processed Meat

The internet has slammed a mom for calling another parent "snobby" after they said their child did not eat processed meat.

In a post shared on the discussion site Mumsnet on Monday, user Flangelica wrote: "'He eats meat, but can't eat any processed meat.' If someone said this to you when you asked about dietary requirements for a child, would you think they were massively w*nky/snobby, or is it socially acceptable and fine?"

The poster explained that her stepsister had invited a guest for a playdate with her children, and after asking about dietary requirements was told to avoid processed meats. The host was frustrated by the comment and felt it was a "snobby" request, but internet users disagreed and shared their thoughts in over 400 comments.

Commenters on the viral post sided with the parent who wanted to avoid processed meat in their child's diet. One commenter said: "I wouldn't think much and cook a roast chicken," while another wrote: "Perfectly acceptable plenty of families choose not to eat processed meat. I tend to avoid it as much as possible."

Another reply pointed out several potential reasons for the parent's request: "I wouldn't think it's wanky. It could be a health reason—nitrites for example or additives, it could be a concern for bowel cancer, or it could be that she knows her child hates them so she is helping me not waste food."

In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) characterized the consumption of processed meat as "carcinogenic to humans," meaning that it has the potential to cause cancer. The report said that this was "based on sufficient evidence in humans that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer."

Processed meat refers to meat that has been preserved by curing, salting, smoking, drying, or canning. Examples of these meats include sausages, hot dogs, salami, ham, cured bacon, or corned beef.

Experts have concluded that each 50-gram (just under 2 ounces) portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer in humans by 18 percent.

But some replies on the Mumsnet forum did feel that it was unreasonable. One user wrote: "I​​ will say, if it's just a dietary preference, I do think it's cheeky to say it at someone else's house."

Meanwhile, another commenter wrote: "If you hand your kids over to someone else to feed and then suggest that their quality of food doesn't meet your minimum standard, it's rude."

While the parent had not mentioned an allergy, other Mumsnet users did point out the potential danger of an allergy to the child: "It's really scary how many people here think it's 'w*nky' and assume it's not an allergy when it very well might be an allergy. Nitrate allergies can be anaphylactic."