Bakery owner defends selling ‘non-binary gingerbread people’ after comments when a photo of the confection went viral
A bakery in Lancashire was criticized for its sexless gingerbread cookies
The Cottage Bakery, Blackpool, accused of promoting a ‘woke agenda’
Boss Paul Cook claims it took people three years to notice the cookies
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A bakery boss has been forced to defend himself after backlash for selling “non-binary gingerbread people.”
Social media erupted this week after people noticed that a bakery in Lancashire was selling genderless gingerbread cookies – traditionally known as gingerbread men.
The Cottage Bakery, based in Blackpool, was blown up online as some claimed it was promoting a ‘woke agenda’.
One user said: ‘Absolute madness. Soon won’t even be able to call it gingerbread, in case it offends gingers.’
Cottage Bakery boss Paul Cook said: ‘It’s not done to be politically correct and some people have thankfully taken it as a joke’
Another added, “Which is worse, a gingerbread that has no gender or people getting mad about a gingerbread that has no gender?” Who cares?’
Despite the trolling, baffled boss Paul Cook was more shocked than he was it took so long for people to notice the cookies.
He said, “I thought that would be funny and that’s how it came about, but it took three years for someone to make a point of it.
“We started putting labels on it before Covid, but people came in saying it was wrong and it wasn’t men.
“So I had a talk with my printer about it and he said, ‘Why don’t you call them non-binary?’
The bakery has been selling gingerbread cookies for 20 years, but started labeling their products when ‘Natasha’s Law’ was passed in parliament in 2019.
The law, which took effect in October 2021, requires all companies to affix full ingredient and allergen labeling to foods prepackaged for direct sale.
It followed the tragic death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, a teenager who died after an allergic reaction to a Pret a Manger baguette.
Although the bakery has been selling gingerbread cookies for 20 years, it started labeling their products when ‘Natasha’s Law’ was enacted in parliament three years ago
Paul also told LADBabel that adding “non-binary” to the labels was not “intended to upset or offend anyone.”
He continued, “The label is on the back so they can’t see it when it’s on the counter, and most people ask for a gingerbread man.
“It wasn’t until the labels came out that people started making stupid comments.
“It was done primarily as a joke because of people’s comments.
“It was not done to be politically correct and fortunately some people took it as a joke.”
One user said: ‘Absolute madness. Soon won’t even be able to call it gingerbread in case it offends gingers