Marks and Spencer accused of cultural appropriation over vegan biryani wrap
![Marks and Spencer has come under fire for its vegan biryani wrap [Photo: Instagram]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/5SO6DnP7HdzZNYrtiosUDg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY2Mg--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/04fb37adfa0e81baf6ef63a1fdcb8337)
Marks and Spencer has been accused of cultural appropriation after launching a vegan biryani wrap.
The £2.80 lunch option is part of the high street chain’s Plant Kitchen range and is made from basmati rice, sweet potato, buckwheat and roasted red pepper.
But Indian cookbook author, Maunika Gowardhan, was quick to call out the supermarket for its lack of authenticity.
Alongside a photograph of the wrap posted to Twitter, the chef wrote: “Thanks but I like my biryani with rice in a bowl not a wrap. Seriously M&S!?”
Thanks but I like my Biryani with rice in a bowl not a wrap. Seriously M&S!? pic.twitter.com/XAqNfoUsN9
— Maunika Gowardhan (@cookinacurry) January 24, 2019
A London-based Indian restaurant also weighed in on the debate via Twitter writing: “This is so wrong at SO many levels- who are you paying to design your wraps Marks and Spencer?”
“You seriously need to rethink your ‘exotic’ wrap selection. That is not biryani – you do not appropriate names from a cuisine without even bothering to do any research on that dish.”
This is so wrong at SO many levels- who are you paying to design your wraps @marksandspencer? You seriously need to rethink your “exotic” wrap selection. That is not Biryani-you do not appropriate names from a cuisine without even bothering to do any research on that dish. https://t.co/A9KPPaBL14
— Darjeeling Express (@Darjeelingldn) January 24, 2019
Fellow social media users promptly took to Twitter to agree, with many criticising Marks and Spencer for the wrap’s unusual take on the classic Indian dish – which traditionally contains meat.
Others also called out the supermarket for spelling biryani incorrectly.
Just to put it in perspective Sig in India firstly there is no such thing as a veg Biryani. Most places will serve mutton or chicken or even fish…
— Maunika Gowardhan (@cookinacurry) January 24, 2019
I’m more worried about the fact that the biryani has sweet potato in?!?!? That is an absolute no no.
— Imam Mansoor Clarke (@mansoor_clarke) January 25, 2019
@marksandspencer tbh I’m just confused… What part of this is biryani? Biryani is a rice based dish, traditionally with meat that most certainly doesn’t have sweet potato, so it’s not right on any level???
— Asad Khan (@AJKhan_Photog) January 26, 2019
Biryani – how is this a biryani? How have @marksandspencer managed not only to mess up the spelling, but make a biryani without rice and meat? IT NEEDS MEAT! Just because you put a sauce in it that maybe tastes like a ‘generic curry’, doesn’t mean you can call it what you like! https://t.co/D9RdmYw7Dn
— Ashley John Ó Gallchobhair (@Bash_luiz) January 25, 2019
I agree. Firstly it’s not biryani if it comes in a wrap and secondly it has sweet potatoes in it! Who puts sweet potatoes in biryani!?! 😒
— Abida Khan (@AbidaNKhan) January 25, 2019
However, there were some social media users who appreciated the supermarket’s latest vegan wrap option due to its attempt at fusion foods.
I have to admit I quite like M&S @marksandspencer ‘s fusion foods. They are probably the only supermarket chain that attempts fusion foods at all. So refreshing and even inspiring.
— Orange Thyme (@OrangeThymeBlog) January 25, 2019
Erm I am Indian, lived there for a period of time and I can’t think of one place that DIDNT serve a veg biryani? I’d like to say there is such a thing!
— Shriya (@ItsShriya) January 29, 2019
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