One user wrote: “Surely it’s for parents to cut up the grapes for their kids? It’s not like a child young enough to choke on a grape wouldn’t be supervised while eating anyway.”

Another said: “TBH if your child does not know how to eat a grape, I think you have the problem, not McDonald’s. What happens when they enter the real world and grapes are sold whole in the supermarket?”

Another user added: “If your kid can eat a chicken nugget they can eat a grape!”

The fast food chain has spoken about their fruit policy in the past where they explained the reasons why their fruit is served in such a way.  “Our apple and grape bags have been available in the UK since 2003 and are a very popular choice with children and parents alike. We have explored a pre-sliced grape with our suppliers, but have found that they can deteriorate quickly. We believe that we have taken a balanced and responsible approach by clearly informing customers purchasing a McDonald’s fruit bag of the potential risks associated with this type of food, and provide advice on how to avoid those risks.

This safety advice was reviewed and made more prominent just last year. Each bag contains the following message: CAUTION! Whole grapes and pieces of apple can present a choking hazard to small children. Cut or break fruit into small pieces. Always supervise young children when they are eating.”

What do you think of this mother’s concern? Grapes are definitely one of the most dangerous and difficult foods to remove from the throat because of their size and shape. In fact once it’s lodged in the throat it completely covers the air passage and survival is slim.

However, even with this knowledge, is it a food establishment’s responsibility to ensure food is safe for your child or is that yours?

Images: Mumsnet