Sausage rolls, a staple in British bakeries and popular with adults and children, are traditionally eaten by hand.
But etiquette expert William Hanson has caused a stir by claiming that this common practice is actually a faux pas. In a viral video that has received over 418,000 likes, social media star Joe Tasker is reprimanded by Hanson as he is about to bite into a sausage roll with his fingers.
“We don’t pick up the sausage rolls with our hands,” Hanson says on TikTok, before demonstrating how he thinks the savory treat should be properly enjoyed. He begins by placing a napkin on his lap to catch any crumbs that might fall.
As the film progresses, Tasker is shown attempting to replicate Hanson’s technique, while the etiquette expert warns him not to “click” the napkin or he’ll “gouge someone’s eye out.” To the surprise of many, Hanson then recommends eating the sausage rolls with a knife and fork.
Hanson describes the steps: “We pick up the cutlery. We don’t use our hands. We hold the fork in our non-dominant hand. We hold the knife in our dominant hand. And then we carefully pry it apart from the edge, not from the middle.”
However, Tasker leaves out the knife and fork and instead grabs the cut piece with his hands and puts it in his mouth. The video astonished viewers and caused them to flood the comments section with their reactions.
One person posted, “I’d be done before that guy even starts,” while another person added, “Just let my brother eat that.” A third person commented, “This is awesome.”
Another user commented: “Sorry, but there is only one way to eat a sausage roll, and that is half in the bag, half outside, and biting into it while walking through town. Standing at a bus stop or in a car is also acceptable.”
