Gingerbread loses manhood as biscuits now gender neutral

IT HAS been a bakery favourite for decades, but now Britain’s biggest sandwich chain has brought the gingerbread treat into the politically correct age by introducing a female character and calling them both “biscuits” instead of men and women.

Pret a Manger has introduced a new gingerbread woman called Annie in addition to Godfrey, its gingerbread man.

Previously packs had described Godfrey as a “gingerbread man”. However,

‘Since we’ve introduced Annie, we thought it would be simpler to call them gingerbread biscuits’

they have now been changed to describe him as a “gingerbread biscuit”. Annie is also described on the front of packs as a “biscuit”, rather than a woman.

Pret claims it introduced Annie after receiving a letter from one of its customers asking why there were only gingerbread men.

Clare Clough, food and coffee director at Pret, said: “Since we’ve introduced Annie, we thought it would be simpler to call them gingerbread biscuits.”

The move is the latest in a string of moves by UK retailers designed to appeal to changing attitudes towards gender and sex.

Earlier this year, John Lewis introduced new childrenswear labels saying Girls & Boys or Boys & Girls on all ownbrand garments from newborns to age 14. A line of “gender-neutral” pieces was also introduced and gendered signs removed from the department store’s childrenswear sections.