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The shocked mum of a little boy claims a Sainsbury's cashier 'gender-shamed' her boy because he chose a pink Kinder Egg.

Charlotte Houghton took three-year-old Mason to the shops to get him a treat after he'd done so well in potty training.

But when the boy picked the Frozen surprise egg, instead of a 'boys' blue Marvel superheroes one the cashier had something to say, reports the Hull Daily Mail.

Mrs Houghton says she was left embarrassed at the til after the cashier loudly said to her son, 'You've got a girls one.'

(Image: Hull Daily Mail)

She said when she told the woman Mason likes the Frozen ones, she replied in a "shocked" tone, 'Oh', then went on to explain how the Marvel Superhero Kinder Surprise eggs are 'the ones for boys.'

Mrs Houghton, a mother-of-two, said: "I've heard of comments been made to parents before but this was the first time I've personally experienced gender shaming.

"I was really taken aback by it. I then found myself explaining to her.

"While she was beeping the other items through, I was saying that he likes the Frozen one and he always chooses it because of the figures, so that is what he is getting.

"I was mumbling on because I felt guilty, like I was doing wrong, then I thought 'what am I doing? Why am I trying to explain? It's got nothing to do with her'.

"I'm sure she meant no harm by her comments but I can't understand this divide of boys and girls toys.

"Personally I think we should encourage our children to play with any toys that they want, as long as they're safe."

Mrs Houghton, a location agent from Willerby said she has always encouraged her eldest, Oliver, ten, and Mason to play with toys of their choice.

(Image: Hull Daily Mail)

She said: "If he had wanted a pram I would have let him have one, it wouldn't make him any less of a boy.

"We've got a kitchen at home and they like playing with the trolleys.

"I just found it really bizarre that she thought it was OK to comment and say that to my son - it has nothing to do with her.

"If it had been a new mum who was upset by it, it could have really knocked their confidence and made them question themselves."

Mrs Houghton posted about her experience on Facebook.

She said: "I posted about it to see what other mummies thought. I'd told my husband but he just looked at me blank."

Ferrero, the Italian company which produces the chocolate eggs has stressed the eggs are not meant to be gender specific.

A spokeswoman said: "The Frozen Kinder Surprise egg is part of the Pink and Blue range, that offers different branded toy ranges in pink or blue coloured eggs.

(Image: Hull Daily Mail)

"The Frozen egg is pink. However, Ferrero doesn't advocate or promote Kinder Pink and Blue as a gender specific product and they are not labelled for girls or boys.

"Kinder Surprise pink and blue eggs help parents navigate the toy ranges on offer and make purchasing decisions based on what is most relevant for their child, as an individual. Feedback from parents shows that they welcome this approach."

A spokeswoman for Sainsbury's said they are investigating the incident, but need to get more information before they can comment properly.

She said: "We would encourage Charlotte to contact us directly so we can get to the bottom of what happened."