Back to full strength! Cheese company that ‘castrated’ the Cerne Abbas Giant of his 35ft manhood reinstates the historic appendage on its vintage cheddar packaging

• Oxford Cheese Company was slammed for 'defacing' the Cerne Abbas Giant
• Company says the censored label was designed following shopper's complaint

By Stewart Carr[1]

Published: 00:10, 1 January 2024 | Updated: 01:28, 1 January 2024

A cheese company accused of 'castrating' the Cerne Abbas Giant has now reinstated the iconic chalk figure's manhood on their packaging.

In June, the Oxford Cheese Company was accused of 'culturally appropriating' the famous figure to help sell their Cerne Abbas Man vintage cheddar - ironically not made in the Dorset village or in Oxford.

They added insult to injury when they censored the giant's phallus from the label.

Following accusations they had 'emasculated' the giant, the company now appears to have u-turned on the decision.

Oxfordshire resident Ivan Kirby recently bought the cheese from a shop in Yarnton, Oxfordshire.

He described said the change as a 'victory for common sense'.

He added: 'I think it's splendid that they've seen sense and truly made their vintage cheddar full strength.'

The Oxford Cheese Company has been slammed for depicting the famous Cerne Abbas Giant on its packaging without his oversized phallus

The 180ft figure, which has a 35ft manhood, is one of Dorset's most famous landmarks, thought to have been created by the Anglo-Saxons in the 8th century as a tribute to Helith, their god of health

The Cerne Abbas Giant, a 180ft chalk figure cut into the side of a hill, boasts a 35ft manhood and is one of Dorset's best known landmarks.

He is said to have been created by the Anglo-Saxons in the 8th century.

A spokesman for the Oxford Cheese Company suggested in June that the manhood may have been removed so not to make the image on the packaging appear too cluttered.

But company founder Robert Pouget then said they had sold the cheese with the uncensored giant for 15 years but had developed a second label several years ago without the manhood after complaints from a supermarket customer.

He claimed the censored version is only sold in one supermarket but it appears with the censored label on the websites of several farm shops and even on the company's own website.

Vic Irvine, head brewer at Cerne Abbas Brewery, which uses a picture of the giant in all his glory on its branding, said: 'It's abhorrent to castrate him'

Locals criticised the Oxford Cheese Company for 'defacing' the club-wielding man on the label of its Cerne Abbas Man vintage cheddar

Vic Irvine, head brewer at Cerne Abbas Brewery, which uses the giant in all his glory on its branding, said he is pleased the phallus has been restored.

Mr Irvine said: 'It's obviously nice to see our Giant restored to his former glory after being emasculated so disrespectfully.

'However the original 'cheddar' wasn't even made in the Somerset parish with the famous gorge and then for the mystery substance to be marketed by a cheesemonger of Oxford smacks of desperation.

'We are proud of our Dorset heritage and we can see the Giant from our brewery and more importantly he can see us!

We love our village and we love our Giant.'

A spokesman for the Oxford Cheese Company last night confirmed that the manhood had now been returned to the cheese.

References

1. ^ Stewart Carr (www.dailymail.co.uk)