Makers of famous Yorkshire sauce accused of 'sacrilege' for single word on bottle

Sheffield-made Henderson's Relish, which has been astir since 1885 and has fans including Arctic Monkeys and Sean Bean, insists its arguable determination is to 'help' overseas customers

The makers of a celebrated Yorkshire sauce person been accused of 'sacrilege' aft putting the connection 'Worcestershire' connected its label.

Henderson's Relish, made successful Sheffield to a concealed household look since 1885, is the large rival to Lea and Perrins Worcester sauce. The 'winning' look has agelong been the taxable of fierce debate, peculiarly successful South Yorkshire.

Comedian Tom Wrigglesworth, calved and bred successful Sheffield, erstwhile said of Henderson’s Relish that portion outsiders deliberation the condiment is the alloy city’s reply to Worcestershire sauce, radical successful South Yorkshire deliberation it is the reply to everything. Fans of 'Hendo's', including the Arctic Monkeys, Rick Savage of Def Leppard and histrion Sean Bean, importune the bluish marque is acold superior to its better-known rival. Now Henderson's has caused outrage with a peculiar vessel for merchantability overseas.

It removed the words "strong and northern" from its label, replacing it with the connection its fans cannot abide: "Worcestershire." Henderson says the connection is utilized to assistance overseas customers recognize the product.

But the caller statement was spotted by Henderson's purist Bill Palmer, who couldn't incorporate his outrage. Posting a representation of the offending bottle, Mr Palmer said “The years spent arguing that Henderson's is thing similar Worcestershire Sauce, adjacent an MP successful the House of Commons was made to apologise for suggesting they were similar. Now Henderson's are making retired it is successful information akin to appeasing the overseas market.

"I'm conscionable gobsmacked. If they can't recognize what STRONG AND NORTHERN is past determination is nary hope..... Shame connected you Henderson's Relish.”

It prompted an outpouring of choler online from Sheffield folk. Gina Wardle posted: "Disgusting, spent years explaining and convincing radical to effort this and present you enactment that statement on." Jane Wright commented: "Is it April Fool’s Day? Is this fake news? Never tin I little myself to adjacent deliberation this is true. I crook the different bottles astir successful supermarkets, and lone bargain successful Sheffield ( I unrecorded successful Hastings) I americium strong, I americium Northern and we cannot let this!!"

‌Jenni Williams posted: "Nooooo! I hatred Worcester (sic) condiment oregon however, they spell it! Please alteration it backmost oregon enactment connected the statement it’s similar Worcester sauce." Paul Dale warned: "Do not messiness astir with a unsocial heritage." Mollie Allred added: "Henderson is Henderson, not related oregon akin to immoderate different sauce," portion Simon Jackson posted: "Embarrassing, volition ne'er beryllium capable to support against the naysayers again."

A Henderson’s Relish spokesperson defended the move, saying: “In 4 planetary markets we notation Worcester oregon Worcestershire Sauce connected the label. This happens erstwhile importers and distributors overseas don't recognize what Relish is, and truthful are incapable to explicate to their customers what the merchandise is and however it should beryllium used, truthful we person planetary labels.”

Made of water, sweetener and tone vinegar with a enactment of spices and colouring, Henderson's Relish is gluten-free, suitable for vegans and is approved by the Vegetarian Society, portion Lea and Perrins' 'key ingredient' is anchovies.

Nicknamed 'Hendo's', the institution was bought by Shaws of Huddersfield successful 1910, who inactive proviso Hendersons with vinegar. In 1940, Charles Hinksman formed the contiguous institution of Hendersons (Sheffield) Ltd., the power of which has remained with the family.

In 2014, Lewisham MP Jim Dowd misunderstood it arsenic a transcript of Lea and Perrins and described it arsenic "parasitic packaging" successful an effort to walk disconnected 1 condiment arsenic another, during a parliamentary statement connected the Intellectual Property Bill.

He had encountered the condiment astatine the Hare and Billet successful Blackheath, London. Sheffield MPs Paul Blomfield and Nick Clegg defended the brand, and Dowd aboriginal toured Henderson's mill successful a peace-making move.