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‘Weetabix?’ Macmillan sparks controversy after rating nation’s best biscuits

A cancer charity has sparked a debate on Twitter after ranking the nation's best biscuits. (Getty Images)
A cancer charity has sparked a debate on Twitter after ranking the nation's best biscuits. (Getty Images)

A heated debate has been sparked on social media after a cancer charity ranked Britain's best biscuits.

Macmillan Cancer Support shared a seemingly innocent ranking of the nations major biscuits, but their final list, as well as order of popularity, sparked a major buzz on Twitter.

In the top tier - named 'OG' - there were Chocolate Fingers, Shortbread, Bourbons and Cookies.

The second category - named 'first class' - featured Fig Rolls, Chocolate Digestives and Party Rings, as well as Madeleines.

In 'average joe' were Rich Tea, Jaffa Cakes and Garibaldis, as well as Weetabix. Yep you read that right.

At the bottom of the pile or rather barrel, came Pink Wafers, Jammie Dodgers and Custard Creams, as well as Ginger Nuts.

Unsurprisingly, many Brits are in uproar over the ratings, with more than 8,000 people chiming in to share their thoughts.

Watch: Which is better? Weetabix Vs Weet-Bix taste test.

While some people took offence at their favourite biscuits being ranked at the bottom of the list, other's couldn't quite get over the inclusion of Weetabix in a poll about biscuits.

"Who's eating dry Weetabix? Own up!" one user asked.

"The cereal police called, they want Weetabix back," another added.

Another asked: "“Who the hell is dipping their Weetabix in a cup of tea?”

"No disrespect to Macmillan but I’m a biscuit connoisseur and this is balls," one Twitter user commented. "Madeleine is cake and who the heck put Weetabix in there? Pink wafer is top league, bourbon and fig rolls bottom of the barrel, where is malted milk and Hobnob, I’m too angry to continue."

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Meanwhile, Google posted an screenshot of the Google homepage with 'since when was Weetabix a biscuit?' in the search box. "Asking on behalf of the nation," it captioned the post.

"According to Google, the answer is 'since 1932'" came the quick response from Macmillan.

Some of the brands featured also took offence to the ranking in which their biscuits had been positioned.

"Biscuits? Average Joe? How very dare you," a spokesperson for Jaffa Cakes wrote.

To which Macmillan responded: "You're lucky we even put you on the list!" followed by a winking emoji.

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The incredible response to the biscuit poll prompted many to praise the social media team for creating such a buzz.

“I want to meet Macmillan's social media manager and shake them firmly by the hand, because the utterly insane addition of both Weetabix and Madeleines to this new *biscuit* rating chart is causing the sort of kerfuffle most social managers envy. Clever. Very clever,” one user wrote.

Amid the whole Twitter furore, Macmillan took the opportunity to encourage people to host one of its Coffee Mornings on September 24 to raise money for people with cancer.

You can find more information about hosting a Coffee Morning and how to donate here.

People were upset about the inclusion of Weetabix which many didn't believe should be considered a biscuit.. (Getty Images)
People were upset about the inclusion of Weetabix which many didn't believe should be considered a biscuit. (Getty Images)

It isn't the first time Weetabix has been embroiled in a Twitter war.

Earlier this year, the brand caused quite the tizz by suggesting a new way of serving the breakfast fave... topped with beans.

Traditionally the breakfast cereal is served with milk, yoghurt or fruit, but the social media bods at Weetabix decided to switch things up by suggested you try the wheaty biscuits covered in beans.

“Why should bread have all the fun, when there's Weetabix? Serving up @HeinzUK Beanz on bix for breakfast with a twist,” read a tweet by the brand.

The suggestion prompted some pretty extreme reactions with plenty of major brands including Dominoes, Amazon, Youtube, Tinder, Lidl, Sainsbury’s and Google piling in.

Even the NHS and the British and US embassies had a take in on the controversial combination, with the embassy tweeting that this was “not the US-UK collaboration they were hoping for”.

Watch: Fried egg and bacon biscuits.