The Cottage Bakery in Blackpool causes stir online for selling ‘non-binary gingerbread people’

By Sean Gleaves
Published 15th Dec 2022, 19:14 BST
Updated 16th Dec 2022, 12:47 BST
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A bakery in Blackpool caused a stir on social media for selling ‘non-binary gingerbread people’.

A post on Facebook generated over 1k shares, 340 comments and 180 likes after a person shared an image of a ‘non-binary gingerbread person’.

The biscuit – found at The Cottage Bakery in Hawes Side Lane – sparked a mixed response, with some backing the decision and others calling it the “woke agenda”.

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But owner Paul Cook said it has actually taken people three years to notice the change.

Paul says it has actually taken people three years to notice the change (Credit: Daniel Martino)Paul says it has actually taken people three years to notice the change (Credit: Daniel Martino)
Paul says it has actually taken people three years to notice the change (Credit: Daniel Martino)

Why did the bakery begin labelling the biscuits as ‘non-binary gingerbread people’?

Paul says the bakery has been selling gingerbread for 20 years, but they had to begin labelling their products when ‘Natasha’s Law’ was laid in Parliament in 2019.

It followed the tragic death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse – a teenager who died after suffering an allergic reaction to a Pret a Manger baguette.

The law, which came into effect in October 2021, requires all businesses to provide full ingredient and allergen labelling on foods which are pre-packed for direct sale.

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Paul Cook from The Cottage Bakery in Hawes Side Lane with his non-binary gingerbread people (Credit: Daniel Martino)Paul Cook from The Cottage Bakery in Hawes Side Lane with his non-binary gingerbread people (Credit: Daniel Martino)
Paul Cook from The Cottage Bakery in Hawes Side Lane with his non-binary gingerbread people (Credit: Daniel Martino)

“We began putting labels on them before Covid, but we had people coming in and saying it was wrong and they were not men,” Paul said.

“So I had a chat with my printer about and he said, ‘Why don’t you call them non-binary?’

“I thought that’d be funny and that’s how it came about, but it’s taken three years for someone to make a big deal of it.”

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As well as non-binary gingerbread people, customers can also get their hands on non-binary gingerbread reindeer (Credit: Daniel Martino)As well as non-binary gingerbread people, customers can also get their hands on non-binary gingerbread reindeer (Credit: Daniel Martino)
As well as non-binary gingerbread people, customers can also get their hands on non-binary gingerbread reindeer (Credit: Daniel Martino)

What has the reaction been like?