I wanted to share a quick update here, mainly because transparency has always been the backbone of how I run Earthy Crunch UK, and that hasn't changed.
Over the past few months, my Facebook business account has been repeatedly reported by a small number of sellers based in the United States, which has resulted in my page being taken down and my account receiving a six month restriction.
What makes this particularly frustrating is the simple fact that the overwhelming majority of my customers are in the UK and Europe. I'm not competing in the same space some people seem to think I am. There's room for all of us here, genuinely.
My intention from day one has been very straightforward: to help make global clay, chalk and sensory products more accessible to European buyers. For a long time, a lot of these products were either difficult to access, expensive to ship, or simply not offered to this side of the world. I wanted to change that in a small, honest way.
Since starting, I've also made a point of supporting other sellers wherever I can, sharing businesses, highlighting creators and generally trying to contribute to a wider ecosystem rather than a closed circle. I've never believed this space should revolve around one voice or one brand. If a community only amplifies a handful of sellers, it stops being a community and starts looking more like a funnel, and that has never sat right with me.
I've tried very hard not to get dragged into drama in this space. I don't care for cliques, and I don't participate in behind the scenes politics. But I won't pretend it hasn't been exhausting at times.
I've had people reach out for advice on everything from branding and packaging to SEO and websites, while also being part of the same circles that later created issues for me. I've even been asked to receive and forward parcels internationally after disagreements between sellers. It's a lot for one person running a small home based business alongside a full time job.
So yes, I've stepped back and blocked a number of accounts, not out of anger, but out of self preservation.
What's been hardest to deal with isn't just the reporting itself, but the nature of some of the claims. I don't post crunch or swallowing content, yet my page was flagged as promoting harmful content and even causing suicide. As someone who has recently lost a family member to suicide, I don't really have words for how heavy that felt to read. It's something I wouldn't wish on anyone, and it absolutely crosses a line.
I want to be clear, I don't hold bitterness towards individuals, truly. There are also genuinely kind people in this space, people who have supported me, shared opportunities, trusted me with their products, and helped me grow something I'm really proud of. I haven't forgotten that. But I'm drawing a line under the parts of this that are toxic, performative or quietly destructive.
I'll continue building Earthy Crunch UK in the way I always have: slowly, honestly, and with the intention of making products accessible to European customers who were often overlooked. I'm one person running this alongside a full time job. I pack orders, manage messages, write, source, organise and keep everything moving from a small setup at home in England. It's not a big operation, just a very real one.
Original announcement
To whoever has been reporting my account,
I wanted to take a moment to address this directly, because I believe in transparency. It's something I've built my whole page around.
Since becoming a seller, I have done nothing but champion this community. I'm a small, home based business based in little England, proudly serving the European community with passion and care. I have never set out to compete aggressively with anyone. In fact, I actively promote other sellers on my blog and website, because I genuinely believe there's more than enough space for all of us.
I stock a wide range of products, and I've always been completely open about who I stock and why. Transparency isn't a strategy for me, it's just who I am.
What has happened as a result of these reports goes beyond my business page. My personal page was taken down too, and the timing could not have been worse. I had organised an in-person trip to the Museum of Edible Earth for people in this very community, and during the ban I had absolutely no way of communicating with those who had wanted to come along. Real people, a real event, left without any information, because of reports made against content that has never been harmful or dangerous.
That is not a side effect. That is cruel, and it was entirely unnecessary.
I want you to know: I harbour no ill will. But I won't be silenced either. I will continue to show up for this community, continue to promote fellow sellers, and continue to do what I do with integrity.
What I will likely stop doing is interacting through Facebook community groups. Not out of defeat, but because my energy is better spent on people who appreciate what I bring to the table.
There is room for all of us here. I truly hope you come to believe that too.
With kindness regardless,
Earthy Crunch UK
Disclaimer: This is written for informational and hobbyist purposes. My products aren't certified food-grade and are sold for collection, crafting or sensory enjoyment. I prepare everything in a home environment, and any consumption is entirely a personal decision and entirely at your own risk. I don't promote ingestion and can't be held responsible for any adverse effects.
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