MasterChef Australia 2026 has only just kicked off, but viewers are already complaining after seeing a contestant cooking in an “unhygienic” way. Emily Sue, 37, has been busy whipping up some delicious dishes on the show, including traditional Chinese dishes, but that’s not what fans have been focusing on. On Facebook, one viewer noted that Emily’s hair is never pulled back, and her fringe could be seen as “messy”.
“Can someone, anyone, please get Emily to either tie up her fringe or clip it back? It’s just so messy and unhygienic,” the viewer pleaded.
Some agreed with her, with one saying, “She certainly wouldn’t get away with it in a real kitchen as they have to have it covered.”
“It would drive me insane!” another declared.
However, there were others who disagreed, saying this same topic gets discussed each year.
“Stop complaining about Emily’s hair and enjoy the show,” one retorted.
“I’ll soon have my annual complaints bingo with this. It’s so predictable. We have moaning about judges, their clothes, hair not tied back, last season Laura, people not seeing their nephew on the screen,” another joked.
“Not really sure why people watch if all they want to do is pull everyone apart,” a third remarked.
“FFS this show is about cooking, not someone’s hair. Can’t you just watch and enjoy without whinging?” another asked.
“Seriously who cares. It’s not as if you’re going to eat the food, it’s theatre, it’s a TV show, just enjoy it,” a fan replied.
Are there strict hygiene rules on MasterChef Australia?
Although MasterChef Australia is a TV show, not a professional restaurant, there are still strict hygiene rules the contestants must follow during the competition. Seeing as the judges need to taste each dish, the cooks are provided with hygiene briefs.
“You’re always briefed about hygiene and you’re always reminded, ‘No double dipping, no using spoons again, make sure anything that falls on the ground goes in the bin’,” Sumeet Saigal previously told Yahoo! Lifestyle.
“Yes, you may have a slip-up now and again. But the thing is, when you compare what happens on the show versus what people don’t see happen in commercial kitchens, you’re looking at a pretty safe environment.”
The contestant also revealed that there is a specific food team that watches from the sidelines. Production prioritises food safety, as you’d expect. “It’s very deeply and very seriously considered in the MasterChef kitchen, including washing hands before we start the cook,” she added.
Cooks in the MasterChef Australia kitchen are also unable to reuse pantry ingredients. “Opening a new package gives a same start level to everyone,” Juan De La Cruz previously told Chattr. “Think humidity in the flour, or even contamination from other ingredients that could ruin recipes.”
“Ultimately, the judges will eat this food, and they want to prevent any type of contamination.”
MasterChef Australia airs Sunday 7pm and Monday and Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel 10 and 10Play.
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