The Paramount Coffee Project cafe apologises to customers over a ‘diabetes’ dessert controversy
IT’S a mouth watering dessert, but this Aussie cafe’s choice of name is leaving customers with a bitter taste in their mouths.
IT’S a decadent tower of cinnamon jam cronut, peanut butter ice cream, dulce de leche caramel and a rich espresso shot.
Sweet tooths vouch for the delicious dessert, one claiming it was “literally the best thing that happened to me this week,” and another reporting it put her into “a food coma”.
But the cafe responsible for the dish is under fire for naming the dessert “Diabetes”. Customers, diabetes sufferers and critics of The Paramount Coffee Project in Surry Hills, Sydney have openly criticised the cafe on its Facebook page, many leaving scathing reviews.
“Horrified at your insensitivity and ignorance,” one woman wrote. “You should educate yourselves before posting such hurtful and inaccurate things on behalf of your business.”
“Shame on you! I put my child to bed every single night praying she wakes up in the mornings,” another woman said. “No disease should mocked or treated lightly, especially one that so very many children suffer from. My daughter isn’t diabetic because she ate one of your horrid desserts.”
But other customers have no issue with the name.
“I think the name suggests what you might get for having eaten this dessert albeit tongue in cheek. I find it rather comical,” one reader wrote. “We all suffer from various illness or disabilities in our lives, learn to laugh as it is the best medicine.”
“My daughter is diabetic. I do not find any offence in the naming of the dessert nor does she. She is just a little disappointed that there are limited sugar free options for diabetics when they go out that are interesting and tasty,” commented another woman.
@newscomauHQ @gracekoelma is Australia really that sensitive? Hoping the wowsers don't Google 'Bum Burner' sausages http://t.co/cgqCtt0qUr
— Auki Henry (@aukiman) July 1, 2014The dessert was an off-the-menu special, advertised on the cafe’s Facebook page - a post which is no longer available to view.
This is not the first cafe to cop criticism after publishing controversial content on Facebook. Last year a Bondi cafe engaged in a bitter note war with a disatissfied customer, and in March a Central Coast cafe posted a note informing customers that they would pay a 50 cent fine for speaking on a mobile phone at the counter.
The Surry Hills cafe has released an official apology on its Facebook page. It was met with a mixed response from customers, some thanking the cafe for their retraction, others demanding they donate to a diabetes research foundation.
News.com.au approached The Paramount Coffee Project for comment and received this official statement from cafe owner Kate Fischer.
“Having written the comment myself I can tell you that this was never intended to hurt or upset anyone, nor do my comments represent what the Paramount Coffee Project represents. Naming a dessert diabetes was only ever meant innocently, with no disrespect to the diabetes community.
As soon as I was alerted to the offence I have caused, the menu item and all posts have been pulled down and I have issued an apology over social media.
We are truly sorry to anyone we have offended in the diabetes community, and apologise for any harm or hurt we have caused.”
Do you think the “diabetes” dessert was bad taste or just a bit of fun? Comment below or join the conversation on Twitter @newscomauHQ | @gracekoelma