It’s hardly a case of playground crack-dealing, but when Sara Morton-Greiner, 10, brought some peppermint oil into school last month little did she know she would be suspended for bringing an “unregulated over-the-counter drug” on to the premises and distributing it to other pupils.

Her mother has asked the school officials to apologise and revoke the suspension, claiming she is infuriated by the implication that her daughter is bringing an illicit substance to school.

The Commack School District of New York said Sara’s actions violated the district’s code of conduct and the label on the bottle said it should be kept out of reach of children.