A CATHOLIC priest has called for the removal of the cross from hot cross buns which went on sale in Woolworths and Coles supermarkets across the country.
Both supermarkets said the buns go on sale this time every year and customer demand is responsible for their appearance on shelves 13 weeks before Easter Sunday, on April 8.
Burnie priest Father Tony Kennedy said hot cross buns were originally eaten on Good Friday to remind people of the day Jesus died on the cross but they had lost much of their religious significance.
The buns had lost their special taste and significance because they were always available, Father Kennedy said.
"Woolworths should remove the cross and sell them as buns and put it back on Good Friday," he said.
Coles media spokesman Jon Church said it was up to Coles customers to decide how they would mark religious holidays.
Burnie priest Father Tony Kennedy said hot cross buns were originally eaten on Good Friday to remind people of the day Jesus died on the cross but they had lost much of their religious significance.
The buns had lost their special taste and significance because they were always available, Father Kennedy said.
"Woolworths should remove the cross and sell them as buns and put it back on Good Friday," he said.
Coles media spokesman Jon Church said it was up to Coles customers to decide how they would mark religious holidays.
Coles sold 800,000 six-packs of hot cross buns in January alone, he said.
"A lot of our customers would like them sold all year round," he said. "What we are doing is responding to customer demand."
"A lot of our customers would like them sold all year round," he said. "What we are doing is responding to customer demand."