Petition Calls To Make It A Crime To Pass Off Casseroles With Pastry Lids As Pies

A petition demanding the criminal prosecution of people wrongly describing casseroles with pastry lids as pies is gathering pace.

The online document, logged with HM Government and for the attention of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, had at time of press more than 500 signatures.

It states: “For too long customers in pubs and restaurants have ordered what is described on the menu as a pie only to be served with casserole in a pot covered by a puff pastry lid.

By the description on the petition this meets the true definition of a pie...

“This is not a pie and is also curiously difficult to consume.”

It points out the Oxford English Dictionary definition of a pie as being: "A baked dish of fruit, or meat and vegetables, typically with a top and base of pastry."

As a final battle cry: “This petition urges the implementation of criminal sanctions upon the owners of food outlets that serve items described as pies without a pastry base.”

...While this does not

Perhaps controversially, it adds: “Exemptions will apply for Shepherds, Cottage and Fish Pies.”

It’s early days for the pie petition, but should it reach the lofty heights of 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in the House of Commons.

Incidentally, the official website for the British Pie Awards also deems a pie as "a filling totally encased in pastry" and will disqualify all interloping foodstuffs.

Where do you stand on this hot potato?