WATCH: Jamie Oliver's jerk rice continues to be criticized

Jamie Oliver's jerk rice continues to be criticised. Picture as featured on Good Morning Britain

Jamie Oliver's jerk rice continues to be criticised. Picture as featured on Good Morning Britain

Published Aug 21, 2018

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The controversy over Jamie Oliver's Punchy Jerk Rice doesn't appear to be ending soon.

Now the founder of the popular Reggae Reggae Sauce, Levi Roots has weighed in and says he thinks the jerk rice was a mistake by Oliver and his team.

During an appearance on Good Morning Britain, Roots said: "I do think it was a mistake by Jamie  — either by him or by his team."

He went on to say: "Maybe he wasn't actually involved in this. I taught Jamie how to cook jerk, we made a fantastic thing many years ago in Clapham Common, close to where I live in Brixton. We got the ingredients from Brixton market, so it was the real deal."

The term "jerk" refers to the Carribean/Jamacian style of seasoning chicken, beef or meat and Oliver has launched a Jerk Rice, which is made in one minute in the microwave.

British Member of Parliament Dawn Butler was the first to criticise Oliver in a tweet that has since gone viral.

The social media outrage about the rice and whether Oliver is guilty of cultural appropriation is also not dying down

There's no such thing as jerk rice apart from what Jamie Oliver has concocted. That's her point. Anybody from any nationality can eat anything they want, there are just some dishes that are best left alone and enjoyed how they're supposed to be made.

— Regina Holland (@ReginaHolland_) August 18, 2018

What a complete Pratt Dawn Butler is. Accusing Jamie Oliver of cultural appropriation because he is selling “jerk rice”! Disgusting excuse of a human. No mention of Ansley Harriott selling risotto though is there? Or many nationalities selling fish and chips? Thought not. Dick.

— jay (@ambulancejay) August 19, 2018

People were just pointing out that it's a traditional marinade for meat, and that 'jerk rice' doesn't actually have anything to do with the authentic traditional cuisine. He's just made it up. People are then rolling their eyes at him marketing it as such

— J (@xhorsechestnutx) August 21, 2018

WATCH: Levi Roots criticises Jamie Oliver's Punchy Jerk Rice on Good Morning Britain

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