Shoppers criticise Asda for allowing a woman to buy more than TWENTY tubs of baby formula

Shoppers slammed Asda after a photo emerged showing a woman buying more than 20 tubs of baby formula in a single transaction.  

The woman appears to be buying two different brands of formula at an Asda branch, somewhere in the UK. 

The photo, which was taken by the person behind in the queue, was shared on Facebook on Monday and has since drawn thousands of likes, comments and reactions. 

Many shoppers criticised Asda for allowing bulk buys, with one posting: ‘How disgusting they would allow that’. 

However others pointed out the woman might have been stocking up for a nursery, or have another legitimate reason for buying so much formula. 

In the last 24 hours most major supermarkets, including Asda, have announced plans to restrict purchases and prevent stockpiling as customers rush out amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

It comes as it emerged selfish eBay sellers are making a profit from the shortage of baby milk on the supermarket shelves – by selling it for more than quadruple its price.

A variety of brands of baby formula – including the likes of Cow and Gate and Aptamil – are being sold for a huge profit across the sites as mothers across the nation panic about low stocks. 

On eBay, one seller is flogging Cow and Gate 2 baby milk formula, 800g, for £30, while its original retail value on Boots is £7.99. 

But desperate parents have been left with no choice but to fork out, as like many supermarkets across the nation, the website reads: ‘We’re sorry, this product is temporarily out of stock. Most products are back in stock within two weeks so please keep checking back.’ 

Meanwhile, a pack of 12 Cow and Gate Nutriprem 2, Ready to Use Baby Milk, 200ml, which retails at £39.99 on Amazon, is being sold at a starting price of £64.65 on eBay. 

Sellers are even inflating prices on Cow and Gate premature baby milk – designed to help early babies grow – as it’s on sale for £5.40, rather than the usual price of £2.99.  

And it seems Aptamil 800mg baby milk, which usually retails at £10, is in huge demand as it’s out of stock everywhere – and is being flogged for £28 on eBay.

Sarah McCullough, from Northern Ireland, who is a mother-of-two to Lucas, 20 months and Ashton, 10 weeks, told Fabulous: ‘It’s appalling, especially given the circumstances of so many people out of work and struggling to get by.’ 

She added: ‘Babies depend on their formula and for someone to put a mother under pressure to pay out crazy money for their child’s survival is absolutely disgusting.’ 

It comes as the shelves of British supermarkets are emptying at pace and staples are being rationed as people stockpile amid the coronavirus outbreak. 

Shortages previously limited to anti-bacterial hand gel and hand soap have spread to cupboard items such as rice, pasta, couscous, Pot Noodles, bottled water, toilet roll and pet food – as well as chilled items including milk, butter and yoghurt.

Pharmacy shelves are also emptying of paracetamol, ibuprofen and immune-system boosting tablets such as Berocca as people prepare to fight off the flu-like illness that has claimed hundreds of lives worldwide.

Facebook and Twitter is packed with photographs of empty shelves from major supermarkets across the UK where shoppers appear to have thrown empty boxes into the aisles in the mad scramble for items.