A row has broken out among Cornish pasty traditionalists after a bakery unveiled a VEGAN version.
With the number vegans on the rise, the traditional pastry has now been adapted – upsetting many purists of the crimped crust baked favourite.
Sam Grady, from the Saint Agnes based Cornish Vegan Pasty Company, has started to make them without the traditional steak and totally egg and dairy-free.
The move has angered many Cornish residents who are adamant it shouldn’t be allowed to carry the name.
Sam said: “I started the company in 2016 when I realised there wasn’t much out there for vegans apart from a bland trio of veg.
“Most pasty companies have upped their game when it comes to a vegan offering since then but we’re the only one rivalling the traditional pasty for flavour.”
Sam’s pasties contain the traditional vegetables, potato, onion and swede, but the chunks of steak have been replaced with seitan – a meat alternative.
After news of the new pasties was shared online, many were quick to voice their disgust.
Ben Paul wrote on Facebook: “Eat whatever you like, but don’t call it what it isn’t.
If its vegan, it ain’t steak. If its steak, it ain’t vegan!”
And Anthony Martin said: “They can keep it, it’s not traditional or Cornish, leave our food alone!”
Malcolm Martyn wrote: “It’s not traditional steak if there is no bloody steak in it.
“It’s minced potato peelings, fungus and quorn pasty. Our forefathers and mother’s spinning in their graves”
In 2002, Cornish pasties were granted protected geographical indication status, meaning only a pasty made the traditional way in Cornwall could be called a Cornish Pasty.
While some locals were able to accept the vegan pasty, they weren’t happy with it being referred to as traditional.
Vix Louise wrote: “It ain’t traditional steak if it’s bloody vegan.”
And Stephen Griffiths added: “Just call it a vegan pastie, better still don’t bother and have the steak ”
PGI status was granted for the pasty following a campaign by the Cornish Pasty Association.
A spokesperson for the group said they had no comment to make on the row.
