Mental health campaigners are calling on Poundland to pull one of their products because
it’s offensive and contains ‘distressing imagery’.
The store has released their own version of M&M’s called ‘Nutters’, with three characters with skewed eyes featured on the packaging.
It’s understandable why some people would find this offensive.
Sarah-Jane Mee
✔
@skysarahjane
Poundland are selling sweets called #Nutters with cross eyed characters on packet. Reinforcing #mentalhealth stigma or overreaction?@skynews
13:14 - 13 Sep 2017
119 119 Replies 18 18 Retweets 41 41 likes
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Although the product has been available for a year it’s only just hit headlines as the campaign to take it off the shelves has stepped up.
British MP Norman Lamb for North Norfolk, whose son Archie suffers from mental health issues, is backing the campaign.
Mr Lamb told The Sun:
There is a stigma attached to mental health and we need to be careful about the way we talk about it.
The product needs to be quickly withdrawn from sale and Poundland needs to apologise.
Poundland Accused Of Being Offensive And Insulting With Name Of Own Brand M&Ms PA 28665734 1048x700PA
Mr Lamb also spoke to the BBC saying:
If you just say nothing and just allow these products to be normal practice, it perpetuates a negative view of mental health – that there’s something weird and odd about you.
Just think about being a teenager and thinking ‘do I want to be defined as a nutter?
We need to be doing much more to recognise that it’s nothing to be ashamed of and embarrassed about and encourage young people to get help.
However, not everyone agreed with his comments:
☔️
@__coldhands
So @normanlamb's offended by Poundland peanuts in choc with "nutters" on the packet and wants them withdrawn. U R out of touch #foodwaste 😡
13:45 - 13 Sep 2017
2 2 Replies Retweets likes
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Other mental health campaigners have called it ‘a real step backwards for progress’ and say it creates the impression mental health issues are ‘not a serious thing’.
While many are left outraged, others have been taking to social media to criticise the campaign calling it an ‘overreaction’:
DJS says adiEU
@woodborobarmpot
The offended-on-your-behalf PC brigade angry at Poundland over its' Nutters sweets. Having had 2 nervous breakdowns, I just find it amusing
14:40 - 13 Sep 2017
Replies 2 2 Retweets 10 10 likes
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Matgo Styles
@MatgoStyles
I really hope @Poundland sticks to its guns over Nutters! Political correctness can be far more divisive than harmless fun.
01:07 - 14 Sep 2017
1 1 Reply 2 2 Retweets 26 26 likes
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The Lord Glencoe
@jmac69
Poundland do not remove the sweets called nutters. I have had a few mental health issues in the past. It's not offensive. Can't people smile
18:12 - 13 Sep 2017
Replies 3 3 Retweets 12 12 likes
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Poundland has announced it will listen to feedback and assess the situation.
In a statement the company said:
These chocolate-covered nuts have been a customer favourite over the last 12 months and that popularity suggests it hasn’t caused offence to them.
They will ‘assess this line’ at their next formal review.
https://www.unilad.co.uk/news/poundland-accused-of-being-offensive-and-insulting-with-name-of-own-brand-mms/
