Tesco has joined Morrisons and Sainsbury’s in renaming their classic “Gingerbread Men” biscuits to the gender-neutral “Gingerbread People,” a move that has ignited sharp criticism from shoppers. Customers on social media accused Tesco of “going woke” and dismissed the change as “pathetic.”
Morrisons made a similar change earlier, explaining it was aimed at promoting inclusivity. However, shoppers remain unconvinced. One social media user sarcastically commented, “Run run as fast as you can, you can’t catch me—I am the gingerbread person?” Another wrote, “It’s a gingerbread man, always has been and always will be,” echoing the now familiar “go woke, go broke” sentiment.
Many questioned the necessity of altering the traditional name. One critic questioned, “It is NOT offensive, racist, or bad language calling it ‘Gingerbread Man.’ Why change it?” Tesco has yet to publicly clarify the reasoning behind the renaming.
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The rebranding has been met with similar criticism aimed at Sainsbury’s and Morrisons, with the latter stating the change came after customer feedback aiming to be more inclusive.
Academic voices have also weighed in. Professor Frank Furedi, Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent, commented, “The reaction is understandable. Language tied to ‘man’ and ‘woman’ is part of cultural identity, and changing it can make people feel marginalized. But who decides what the ‘changing reality’ is?”
Gender-neutral gingerbread figures have been around since at least 2018 when the Scottish Parliament’s coffee shop adopted “gingerbread people.” That decision drew criticism from Conservative MSP Annie Wells, who labeled it “an utterly pointless” gesture that distracts from genuine gender equality issues.
In the wake of Tesco’s announcement, shoppers continue to debate the change, reflecting broader cultural conversations about language, identity, and tradition in popular food products.