BBC's Saturday Kitchen fans were left exasperated by a major hygiene error during the show's recent instalment.
On April 27, Matt Tebbutt made a comeback to the show and celebrated Chinese-American restaurateur Ken Hom's remarkable journey of 40 years on British television, reports the Express.
During the feature, several delicious Chinese dishes were whipped up in tribute to Hom's extraordinary career, and a special guest, Chef Tong, demonstrated how to prepare the perfect Peking duck - one of Hom's personal favourites.
While seasoning the duck with various spices, stuffing it with ginger and spring onions, soaking it in hot water, and patting it dry with a towel, Chef Tong triggered an uproar on social media as viewers watched him use the same towel to dry his hands and handle the duck.
Exasperated viewers took to Twitter in response to the chefs actions. As one user pointed out: "These chefs on #SaturdayKitchen need to remember their basic food hygiene skills."
Another fumed: "Chef used same teatowel to dry off duck! wipe his hands, then same one to pick up cooked duck! ! hygiene on this program is disgusting! ! running hands under tap with no use of soap is NOT washing hands, then using pre used teatowel to dry."
Others voiced their concern, with one exclaiming: "The contaminated towel" followed followed by a scared face emoji. Another expressed: "Too much cross-contamination going on for me."
Finally, one user quipped: "What's Mandarin for wash your hands."
Despite the backlash from viewers, the duck was a hit with those in the studio. Matt remarked: "It's just delicious. I'm so excited."
Drinks connoisseur Helen McGinn concurred, confessing that duck is one of her most-loved meals.
The 50 year old television host then teased his companion, saying: "Whenever we go out she's like, 'Can we have the duck.' Let's have it again."
On the topic of the Saturday Kitchen tribute to his career, Ken Hom, aged 74, expressed: "I'm very honoured Saturday Kitchen is doing this."
"I first appeared on it in 2002, and each time it's always a surprise what will happen. I've broadcast for the show from my small apartment in Paris, and even did a Chinese New Year episode over Zoom live from Bangkok during coronavirus >Covid."
