If you’re a fan of MasterChef, you know the kitchen can be a pressure cooker—literally and figuratively! But this week, it wasn’t just the culinary creations that had viewers talking. Instead, a 'disgusting' moment spotted by eagle-eyed fans during Monday night’s episode has sparked a heated debate about hygiene in the MasterChef kitchen.

The culprit? Fan favourite Theo Loizou, who wowed us last season and is back for another shot at the title. But while whipping up a basil ice cream and masa crumb with chilli and pineapple for the judges and special guest Ixta Belfrage, Theo was caught on camera tasting his purée with a spoon… and then popping that same spoon right back into the pot for another go. Yikes!

One sharp-eyed viewer took to Reddit to vent: 'Anyone else notice Theo tasting his purée and then putting the same spoon back into the pot? I mean… don’t tell me I’m the only one! I always catch myself watching out for this, and it drives me nuts when contestants do it. A total pet peeve of mine. Yeesh.'

A MasterChef contestant has been slammed by fans after being seen double dipping during a Mystery Box Challenge. Credit: Portra / iStock

And it turns out, this isn’t the first time MasterChef contestants have been called out for questionable kitchen habits. Over the years, fans have pointed out everything from missing hairnets to cross-contaminating utensils. But double-dipping? That’s a big no-no, especially when you’re serving up food to others.

The Social Media Stir

Social media lit up with comments, with many fans expressing their disgust. 'Totally fine if you’re only cooking for yourself, but not if you’re going to serve the food to others. I really don’t want someone else’s saliva in the food I’m going to eat; that’s disgusting and unhygienic and a potential health risk,' one viewer wrote. Another chimed in, 'This is one of the things I notice every year that I assume is just due to not many of them having ever worked in a real restaurant. Chefs usually have a jar of spoons at their work station for testing, each spoon gets used once and then goes in a container of water and over to the dishwashing station when full.'

But not everyone was up in arms. Some fans argued that the purée was still cooking, so any germs would be killed off by the heat. 'That pot isn’t exactly sitting at room temperature festering. The food will be fine,' one person reasoned. Another agreed, 'If the pots were boiling or just at a high heat, it would just be getting sterilised due to the heat.'

What Really Happens Behind the Scenes?

So, is the MasterChef kitchen a health hazard, or are viewers overreacting? 2024 contestant Sumeet Saigal weighed in, telling Yahoo Lifestyle that hygiene is taken very seriously on set. 'You’re always briefed about hygiene, and you’re always reminded, ‘No double dipping, no using spoons again, make sure anything that falls on the ground goes in the bin’,' she explained. 'Yes, you may have a slip-up now and again. But the thing is, when you compare what happens on the show versus what people don’t see happen in commercial kitchens, you’re looking at a pretty safe environment.'

Sumeet also revealed that there’s a dedicated food safety team monitoring every move. 'We actually have very active food teams that stand along the side. So you don’t see them, but every bench has got a representative of the food team that stands watching this stuff,' she said. 'They’re constantly watching to see that you’re not double dipping, and anything that falls on the floor is picked up and thrown in the bin because food hygiene is a very big part of it.'

She added that even meat temperatures are checked after the clock stops during service challenges, and hand washing is strictly enforced before cooking begins.

How Does This Stack Up to Real-World Kitchens?

For those of us who’ve worked in or peeked behind the scenes of a commercial kitchen, the reality can be a bit confronting. While MasterChef contestants are under the microscope, some professional kitchens have been known to cut corners when the pressure is on. In fact, the show’s strict hygiene protocols might actually put it ahead of some restaurants when it comes to food safety!

Still, the 'ick' factor is real, and it’s understandable that viewers want to see the highest standards upheld—especially when the food is being judged by some of the country’s top culinary experts.

A Teachable Moment

At the end of the day, this incident is a good reminder for all of us—whether you’re a home cook, a contestant on national TV, or just someone who loves a good dinner party. Double-dipping is a habit best left behind, especially when you’re sharing food with others. Not only is it more hygienic, but it’s also just good manners!

And for those who are curious, professional chefs often keep a container of clean-tasting spoons at their station, using each one only once before sending it off to be washed. It’s a simple step that keeps everyone safe and happy.

Key Takeaways

• MasterChef fans have slammed contestant Theo Loizou after he was spotted double dipping, licking a spoon before using it again in the pot during a Mystery Box Challenge.
• Viewers labelled the act 'disgusting' and a 'potential health risk', saying it’s unhygienic to put a used spoon back when serving food to others.
• contestant Sumeet Saigal clarified that MasterChef has very strict hygiene practices, with food safety teams monitoring contestants at each bench to prevent issues like double dipping.
• Some fans argued the incident was less concerning as the food was still being cooked, suggesting high temperatures would sterilise any germs from the spoon.

Are you a stickler for kitchen hygiene, or do you think the fuss is overblown? Have you ever caught yourself double-dipping at home—or called out a family member for it? And if you’ve worked in a commercial kitchen, how do the standards compare to what you see on MasterChef? We’d love to hear your thoughts and stories in the comments below!

 

[Bazza boy]

I think it is discussing mixing food with their hands when wearing rings on their fingers

 

[Littleboy8]

Dirty pig I hate double dippers

 

[novezar]

You see it on tv adds as well at times.
Turns me right off as well.

 

[Suzanne rose]

Seriously you would think they would know better !!

Strange with everything I cook I never do a taste test

 

[Catherines]

My food test is always dip your spoon in then put the contents into your own palm to taste. That way you can use the same spoon over and over again for cooking that meal - leave the mixing spoon aside and use a separate spoon for the taste-in-your palm test.

 

[Luckyus]

We had to be checked personal wearing of Jewellery before we started work, now although a wedding ring isn't classed as jewellery it was classed as clothing, however if you worked in the galley you had to take it off. Hair couldn't be below the collar you had to ask permission to grow a beard? Ect.