“We’re in the midst of a vegan revolution, and the producers are taking the cake by not allowing contestants to ‘veganise’ recipes in the technical challenge.”

GBBO is under fire for forcing vegan contestant Freya Cox to use animal products in the weekly challenges.

As part of the show’s rules, every participant is given the same ingredients and Freya has had to use buttercream and eggs in the technical rounds.

The Scarborough contestant Freya, who is the youngest taking part in this year’s Channel 4 series, used her own Instagram to apologise to fellow vegans about her dilemma as she couldn’t change the technical challenge recipes to  vegan ones because ‘it would mean the whole show was unfair’.

She added: “Sorry if this is disappointing to hear but once the show has finished, I have plans to veganise the recipes for you all so I hope that makes up for that.”

‘Disgraceful’

But viewers and animal campaigners are angry with the show for not changing the rules and forcing Freya to use animal products.

Vegan charity PETA’s director Elisa Allen branded GBBO’s decision “disgraceful” because it compelled contestants to “violate their ethical, religious or other principles”.

“We’re in the midst of a vegan revolution, and the producers are taking the cake by not allowing contestants to ‘veganise’ recipes in the technical challenge,” Allen said in a statement.

She added that if Freya had used vegan products, it would only serve to “enhance and enliven” the challenge as well as inspire viewers to try cooking with plant-based ingredients too.

Other campaigners couldn’t understand why the show had a vegan participant if they couldn’t use plant-based products in every instalment.

Viewers also vented out online. One person tweeted: “It’s rather silly that Freya had to use animal products when she’s been advertised and bigged-up as the first vegan contestant.

“That’s a huge slap in the face to every vegan out here in the UK. Oh, so should we just pick and choose when to eat dairy? No, it doesn’t work like that.”

Some also denounced Freya for participating in the show in the first place.

“She sold out! I wouldn’t have made the cake,” one wrote.

“Who goes on a baking show when you know you can’t use eggs,” added another.

“Then that’s not the show for her, it’s impossible to accommodate everyone’s desires on a competition show, it’s not a restaurant,” a third commented.

• Read: Freya Cox is making history as GBBO’s first ever vegan baker

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Mohsina Dodhiya

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