Famous Chef, Jamie Oliver, is reported to have hired specialists to help him avoid cultural appropriation in his recipes. Oliver, a popular cookbook author, who had a television show called the Naked Chef, says he has hired specialists to vet his recipes to avoid offending anybody. For example, he says his “Empire Roast Chicken,” which is based on Indian cuisine would not be acceptable today. He wants to be inclusive and culturally respectful. It may not be perfect, but it is a move toward respect and inclusion.

Oliver faces no legal risk because recipes for food are not protected by law (unless the recipe is a trade secret, like Coca Cola). And there is no domestic law against borrowing from someone else’s culture. But, as Oliver acknowledges, it can cause offense. But as some have pointed out, this is largely about a power imbalance, so this is a difficult field in which to play.

Chefs may be inspired by different cultures, but the question is how to do so in a manner that is respectful. The problem with too much criticism about cultural borrowing is that you can end up neutralizing things to the point that cultural diversity is absent.

But whether you are borrowing or inspired, if you do it in a way that devalues other cultures, the result is bad for humanity and bad for business. So, even if he gets slammed with criticism for being “woke”, Jamie Oliver is taking a step in the right direction.