'Great British Bake-Off' Contestant Reveals How the Show Managed Her Nut Allergy

“Great British Bake-Off” season 10 will air its final episode on Tuesday, but for baker Rosie Brandreth-Poynter, however, that journey ended on Oct. 22 during the semi-finals. After Brandreth-Poynter’s we learned exactly how the popular baking show expertly accommodated her nut allergy.

In a parting letter and series of tweets, we learned just how the reality TV show made it possible for Brandreth-Poynter to enjoy a safe and nut-free competition.

“I have a nut allergy so I was so amazed that the production team took that on board, had me in the tent and had to adapt certain practices for filming, everyone worked around it so well, the backroom production team were incredible and flexible,” Brandreth-Poynter wrote in a letter posted online.

“I had the BEST time baking in the tent with the best people!”
Here’s Rosie’s lovely letter to all you Bake Off fans. #GBBO pic.twitter.com/tHJSQzezaB

— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) October 22, 2019

In a hand-written note shared by “GBBO” on Twitter, Brandreth-Poynter shared she even had a “nut runner” to keep her area safe, which included storing all of her equipment separate from the other contestants’ gear and washing her bench separately as well.

They kept all my equipment totally separate and cleaned my bench separately ????

— Rosie Brandreth-Poynter (@RosieBrandreth) October 22, 2019

As Brandreth-Poynter pointed out, it’s not often others are willing to make accommodations for people with nut or food allergies. Mom and advocate Lianne Mandelbaum, for example, shared the push-back she and her son often get in public spaces like on an airplane in her article, “What I Want People to Understand About Flying When You Have a Peanut Allergy“:

The man behind us who was traveling with his son, when politely asked to refrain from eating peanuts, exclaimed, ‘So this entire plane has to suffer because one child has a nut allergy?’

As the flight attendant left, the man continued his ridiculous rant telling his son that people like us should just not fly. This compassionless man said, ‘suffer?’ Being asked to forego a peanut snack choice for a two-hour flight in this father’s eyes is an intolerable ‘suffering’ of such tremendous inconvenience that he felt the need to share his ‘righteous indignation’ with all the immediate passengers and the flight attendant.

The producers, cast and crew of “The Great British Bake Off” showed accommodating a nut allergy takes a little extra thought and consideration but is entirely possible. If a baking show can manage to accommodate a nut allergy, airplane passengers, schools and other spaces can also find a way to create a safe environment for people with food allergies.

Brandreth-Poynter previously shared on Twitter she got into baking so she and her sister, who also has a nut allergy, could enjoy the same classic treats as everyone else.

“One of the reasons I got into baking was to make nut free versions of all the treats my sister and I wanted to try,” Brandreth-Poynter tweeted. “We both have severe nut allergies (anaphylaxis) so couldn’t eat anything from bakeries or patisseries.”

NUT FREE macarons ???? one of the reasons I got into baking was to make nut free versions of all the treats my sister and I wanted to try. We both have severe nut allergies (anaphylaxis) so couldn’t eat anything from bakeries or patisseries. #gbbo #nutallergy pic.twitter.com/Jyw1zKXHq1

— Rosie Brandreth-Poynter (@RosieBrandreth) September 8, 2019

She said in her farewell letter she would keep on baking and thanked “GBBO” for such a great experience.

“Well, I never ever imagined I would get this far. I was so amazed to get to the Semi Final. Of course everyone wants to get to the Final, but I was so happy to get to where I did,” Brandreth-Poynter concluded her letter. “Overall I have absolutely loved every minute of it.”