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Since 2020, we've all become regretfully familiar with item shortages and the need to grab what we need whenever we see some on the shelves.
But the internet mostly agreed that does not mean we completely clear the shelves, leaving nothing for other shoppers.
Two mothers couldn't agree about that earlier this month, according to a video recorded in Massachusetts and posted by @chopnedits on TikTok.
The mother who filmed the video had just entered the baby formula aisle, greeted by completely empty shelves, except for a few cans of a formula that her baby couldn't use.
There was another woman in the aisle who had completely filled the bottom of her cart with tall cans of pre-mixed formula, which generally have about four servings of formula in them and need to be utilized in 24 to 48 hours after opening the can to ensure the product stays fresh for the baby.
The videographer approached the other mom and tried to reason with her about putting some of the cans back on the shelf for other mothers who needed formula for their babies, including herself.
The other mother didn't seem to get it and simply said:
"You could have asked if you wanted some and not caused a scene."
But the woman filming said:
"I have a baby at home to feed, and you're over here clearing the shelves."
"You don't think I need it too? You just cleared the shelves of all this formula."
"This is the whole reason why there's a formula shortage."
You can watch the video:
Some TikTokers theorized that the woman was going to resell the formula in her cart.
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Others thought the woman should be considerate and leave some formula for other moms.
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But a few said they would not be thinking of other people's children during a formula storage.
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Most of TikTok could agree that even if the other mother wasn't causing the formula shortage personally, she was at least contributing to the panic that often surfaces when consumers are faced with empty shelves.
Just like when people couldn't find toilet paper and other important essentials at the start of the pandemic, people are less than likely to stay calm when they can't provide for their families, especially when there's a baby at home to feed.