A mum is panicking after McDonald's axed plastic cutlery because she says her autistic son gets violent without McFlurry spoons.
Alex Finnigan has autism and could not speak since birth and for more than a decade has been using plastic cutlery to "reduce his anxiety", Liverpool Echo reports.
But the fast food giant announced it would discontinue the plastic items with wooden ones.
Alex's mum, Tricia said "panic" took hold when she heard the news as Alex, 28, has been known to become violent when none are available.
Tricia said "she does not know" what she will do, with only three months worth of spoons stockpiled time is running out.
She said: "He carries them with him all the time, he takes them to bed, to the toilet and wherever he goes he constantly has them in his hands. When we can't get them he has meltdowns.
"He can't get no for an answer, he will grab hold of us and forces us out of the door. He is usually extremely placid but he can become violent.
"He has hit his head a few times and taken the door off its hinges in a desperate attempt to try and get the spoons."
Tricia, from Maghull, Merseyside, said that in the past the spoons have been supplied by friends and family who will "pick them up" for her.
She has also been buying them from a McDonald's in the area at £12 a box.
Tricia, 60, said: "When we found out it was sheer panic and frantic desperation I don't know how we will manage his behaviour.
"Even the restaurants can't get hold of them as they have been discontinued, they are the only thing he is interested in.
"I am desperately worried because if he turns violent family members are going to get hurt, he is six foot and over 20 stone. As he is non-verbal he will not accept that we can't get them."
Nina Prichard, head of sustainable and ethical sourcing at McDonald's, said: "As a business, we're committed to taking action on packaging and waste and increasing our use of sustainable materials.
"We're pleased to announce another step forward in eliminating single-use plastics and it's great to be switching our famous McFlurry spoons to this new paper-based material."
The Mirror reported last week how McDonald's first new permanent burger in 15 years has been given the thumbs down by some fast food fans.
Customers are calling for the McCrispy to be axed and the Chicken Legend brought back on the menu.
The McCrispy is a chicken breast fillet in a sour-dough bun with lettuce, mayo and black pepper.
The Chicken Legend burger was taken off the menu around the same time.
While some customers seem to be happy with the new addition, others were less impressed, reported LadBible.
