Supermarket giant Sainsbury's has been forced to apologise to a customer who was told he couldn't have black pudding with his full English breakfast because the chef was a Jehovah's Witness.
Alan MacKay had dropped his wife off at work when he popped into the store for a meal at 9am on Wednesday morning.
But he was stunned when he was told he couldn't have any black pudding -which is made of animal fat, blood and oatmeal- because of the female chef's religious views.
Jehovah's Witnesses regard blood as sacrosanctand won't eat an animal if it hasn't been bled to their standards.
Mr McKay was given a refund by the Sainsbury's store in Arnold, Nottingham, and forced to return to his home in nearby Mapperley to eat his breakfast.
The former police officer said: "I know it sounds trivial but it's the principal behind it that's ridiculous.
"If she refuses to cook black pudding because of her religion, what is she doing working in a kitchen that sells it?
"She shouldn't be employed if she won't cook the menu.
"I was really looking forward to my black pudding this morning. You get a good breakfast in there.
"But when I went in there to order my black pudding, like I have done before, I went away hungry. I was really cheesed off.
"I came home and had my breakfast at 11.30am. I had crumpets, a poached egg and beans.
"I didn't buy black pudding because it's quite fatty so I only have it once a week or so.
"Sainsbury's does a wonderful black pudding so that's why I was so disappointed.
"It's one of the few big stores that sells black pudding, Morrison's doesn't."
Sainsbury's has since apologised for the confusion and confirmed the chef is a Jevovah's Witness.
A spokeswoman said there had been a mix-up between the two kitchen staff and another worker had misunderstood the chef who asked them to prepare the black pudding.
They added: "We have apologised to the customer for the misunderstanding."
