A new cheese flavoured after hot cross buns has split opinion, with some Christians saying it represents "the decay of Christendom and Christian culture."
The Hot Cross Bun Cheese, as sold in Morrisons, contains the traditional ingredients of cinnamon, blueberries and raisins, commonly found in the seasonal treat.
However, there has been controversy among Christians, with some saying it is "erasing" a Christian symbol.
It is not the first time Hot Cross Buns have been at the centre of a culture clash, with Iceland slammed after replacing the cross on top with a tick.
The store has come under fire for selling Hot Cross Bun flavoured cheese
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Former chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II Dr Gavin Ashenden said: "Why do they always have to pick on Christian symbols? It’s not just this, it’s also Cadbury’s gesture eggs. It’s as if anything Christian is being erased. What we are dealing with is the decay of Christendom and Christian culture.
"We have been told over the last 50 years that we live in a multicultural society, where everyone has a pitch, but that is wrong. It is everyone but Christians."
Cheese historian Ned Palmer added: "The thought of a hot cross bun cheese is making my toes curl...It’s a step too far.
"A hot cross bun is a lovely thing on its own, rather than some god-awful adulterous cheese that is probably over sweetened. I wouldn’t mess with hot cross buns or cheese. To quote a famous line from Jurassic Park, 'they were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should'."
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Dr Gavin Ashenden has spoken out against the cheese
GB NewsThe decoration on top of a hot cross bun is typically made from flour paste, which is said to represent the cross on which Christ died.
Some culinary historians say the spices represent those that were used to embalm Christ after his death.
One of the earliest records of the snack dates back to 1361, when they were supposedly distributed to the poor at the gates of St Alban’s Abbey.
Campaign group Christian Concern said the new product "loses some of the symbolism" of the buns.
Head of public policy at Christian Concern Tim Dieppe said: "I’m surprised and amazed. You lose some of the symbolism. I don’t think I would buy it.
"The idea of a hot cross bun is you have got a cross and all the various spices, which represent the suffering on the cross. I don’t really understand how you can turn all that into cheese."
GB News has approached Morrisons for a comment.
