MasterChef Australia fans slam the show’s ‘repulsive’ hygiene standards: ‘I thought that was a big no no!’

MasterChef Australia fans have taken aim at the cooking show’s hygiene standards. 

Eagle-eyed viewers have singled out recent episodes where fan favourites can be seen sporting rings and necklaces while preparing food.

‘I have noticed that a lot of contestants wear jewellery when cooking. I thought that was a big no no in the hospitality industry?’ a fan wrote on a Reddit discussion board.

The viewer also took issue with Jamie Fleming and his choice of headwear.

‘Same with Jamie wearing his caps,’ the user said of Fleming, who first appeared on the show in 2014 and returned this year for the Back To Win season.

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MasterChef Australia fans have taken to social media to attack the cooking show after spotting contestants wearing jewellery in the kitchen. Pictured: Laura Sharrad

Eagle-eyed viewers have singled out recent episodes where fan favourites can be seen sporting rings and necklaces. Pictured: Sarah Todd 

Wearing rings while handling meat, poultry, seafood and/or working dough etc, is genuinely repulsive,’ complained one viewer on the Reddit. Pictured: A scene from a recent episode

‘I’ve been saying this for years,’ added another disappointed viewer.

‘Wearing rings while handling meat/poultry/seafood and/or working dough etc, is genuinely repulsive.

‘I don’t care how many times they wash their hands in between each step. Why on earth can’t they take off their jewellery for their cooks??!!’

Added another viewer, ‘I don’t think we need or will ever see hair nets but at least tidy, pulled back hair, and no hanging jewellery or bracelets/rings.’

‘Also, shouldn’t people be pulling their hair back?’ said another viewer.

Viewers were particularly disturbed to see contestant Sarah Todd wearing jewellery and Snezana ‘Snez’ Calic wearing her long hair out.

‘Surely there shouldn’t be fringes and loose strands of hair free across the face – should have to tuck it under a cap or something?’

It comes after MasterChef Australia fans were up in arms after two stars from the cooking show appeared to break a kitchen taboo during an episode last week.

‘Shouldn’t people be pulling their hair back?’ one viewer wondered. Pictured: Snezana Calic

A scene from a recent episode

One viewer also saw fault with past Jamie Fleming and his choice of headwear. (Pictured)

A spokesperson from Endomol Shine Australia responded to the comments.

‘Hygiene, health and safety are paramount in the MasterChef Australia kitchen. Contestants are briefed on protocols before they begin each cook and our Food Team provide reminders throughout.’

The moment came as contestants were preparing their courses for the service immunity challenge at Melbourne’s Vue De Monde.

As contestant Laura Sharrad flamed a handful of delicious looking wagu steaks, the 29-year-old from Adelaide was seen to blow on the food – a gesture that sent viewers firing off alarmed comments online.

‘What’s with Laura blowing all over the steak?’ moaned one fan, while another added, ‘Laura stop blowing on food.’

And to add more drama to the issue, Executive Chef Hugh Allen was seen doing exactly the same thing – cooling down a dish by blowing on the food.

‘Totally fine if you’re only cooking for yourself, but not if you’re going to serve the food to others,’ someone else said. 

Another viewer agreed with the critical comments on the thread before adding, ‘no one told Laura not to, then along comes Hugh and does the same.’

‘All that saliva Laura is blowing over those Wagyu cubes,’ said another MasterChef enthusiast.

Most viewers complaining about the ‘food blowing’ saw it as a hygiene risk.

‘I’m not eating anything that the chef has continually blown over. That’s a no-no, and I’m surprised nothing was said to Laura. But then Hugh blew over it too. Yuck,’ explained one fan on the thread.

According to 2024 MasterChef Australia contestant Sumeet Saigal, the cast is informed of the hygiene standards ahead of filming.

‘You’re always briefed about hygiene and you’re always reminded,’ she told Yahoo Lifestyle last June.