Charity demands apology after Bake Off sparks ‘deep concern with harmful message’

The Great British Bake Off has been accused of spreading a ‘harmful message’ during a treatment astir coeliac disease.

During this week’s episode of spin-off bid Bake Off: An Extra Slice, hosts Jo Brand and Tom Allen welcomed guests Jonathan Ross, Ravneet Gill and Josh Pugh.

Speaking astir the Bread Week challenges the contestants faced connected the amusement this week, speech past changed to what the sheet thought of the staple food.

‘I’ve ne'er met a loaf I didn’t love,’ Jonathan declared.

Meanwhile Josh said helium had ‘never met anyone who didn’t similar bread’.

Ravneet past went connected to share: ‘Well I emotion breadstuff but my Mum’s coeliac so she shouldn’t devour bread, but she inactive loves it, she inactive eats it.’

Jo replied: ‘Good for her.’

Jonathan past added: ‘And bully for whoever cleans up aft her.’

However successful an unfastened missive written to the producers of the show, Coeliac UK said it would ‘like to explicit concern’.

‘These comments trivialise coeliac illness and nonstop a harmful connection to the public. Coeliac illness is simply a superior autoimmune information wherever the ingestion of gluten triggers an immune effect that damages the gut lining, starring to nutrient malabsorption and a big of imaginable wellness complications. Even the smallest crumb of gluten tin origin terrible symptoms, including debilitating pain, prolonged suffering and adjacent recurrent miscarriage, arsenic semipermanent wellness risks specified arsenic osteoporosis and, successful uncommon cases, tiny bowel cancer. It is important to accent that coeliac illness is not a nutrient penchant oregon an allergy; it is simply a superior aesculapian information that requires lifelong adherence to a strict gluten escaped diet,’ the letter, signed by main enforcement serviceman Hilary Croft, read.

They continued: ‘We are peculiarly disheartened by Ravneet Gill’s comments fixed her erstwhile relation arsenic a justice connected the Junior Bake Off, wherever she displayed compassion for those that person been diagnosed with coeliac disease. The remarks made during An Extra Slice perpetuate a communicative that dismisses the severity of this condition. They suggest that individuals with coeliac illness should compromise their wellness for the involvement of enjoyment, which undermines the precise existent challenges they look and yet puts their wellness astatine risk.

‘Furthermore, the laughter successful effect to these comments trivilaises the struggles of the 1 successful 100 individuals successful the UK affected by this condition. It is captious that media representations admit the seriousness of coeliac illness and the carnal and intelligence wellness implications of adhering to a gluten escaped diet. Discussions astir gluten escaped fare should beforehand close understanding, respect, and accommodation for dietary needs alternatively than downplaying their significance.’

The foundation past added: ‘We are hopeful that this incidental volition promote your squad to prosecute successful respectful conversations regarding coeliac illness and its interaction connected individuals and families.’

It besides called for an apology to radical with coeliac illness connected aerial ‘to code the dismissive and inaccurate portrayal of coeliac illness successful the programme’.

In the caption of the post, the foundation said it was ‘deeply concerned’ by the remarks.

After sharing a photograph connected the acceptable of the show, Ravneet besides faced terrible disapproval from galore viewers.

‘Couldn’t rather judge my ears with the coeliac comments! How irresponsible! Coeliacs eating gluten is not comic and should not beryllium condoned! You truly request to enactment this close and apologise and explicate – this is peculiarly distressing for those recently diagnosed is this the connection to springiness them!’ Jan commented.

Many others expressed their concern, with 1 saying they were ‘flabbergasted by the information being trivialised’.

The backlash comes aft Vanessa Feltz came nether occurrence for comments she made astir the illness connected This Morning past year.

During a conception Vanessa said a caller’s mother-in-law not allowing them to bring their ain nutrient to a gluten-free Christmas meal was ‘completely unreasonable’.

In effect to the caller being told not to bring anything, Feltz said: ‘So she’s treating coeliac illness arsenic if it’s a perchance fatal peanut allergy and they can’t person thing with gluten successful the location which is wholly unreasonable.’

Feltz, 61, aboriginal apologised connected her TalkTV amusement for the comments, saying ‘if anyone misunderstood oregon felt that I did, I americium precise sorry’.

However, viewers were unimpressed, with the amusement facing thousands of complaints to Ofcom.

Metro.co.uk has contacted Channel 4 for comment.

The Great British Bake Off continues Tuesday astatine 8pm connected Channel 4.

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