As the chefs took on the 75 minute challenge, fans shared their outrage on social media.

MasterChef viewers were not impressed with what they perceived as a lack of duty of care for the contestants. Credit: Channel Ten

MasterChef viewers were not impressed with what they perceived as a lack of duty of care for the contestants. Credit: Channel Ten

This week on MasterChef Australia, the eight remaining contestants were flown to Doha, Qatar, to continue the competition. Callum Hann, Depinder Chhibber and Snezana Calic were among the contenders for the grand prize alongside Laura Sharrad, Jamie Fleming, Sarah Todd, and Ben Macdonald, who were lucky enough to be awarded Business Class seats on the international flight after plating up the best four dishes in the previous challenge.

Fans had expressed outrage that Callum was not also given an upgrade, seeing as he had immunity, sharing their disgust on social media. However, once the contestants touched down in Doha, fans had far bigger concerns to air.

As the hopefuls approached the judges, they were informed that they would be participating in a Mystery Box challenge, in which they had to use local ingredients to create a dish within 75 minutes.

While the contestants eagerly dove into the task, viewers expressed their horror that the chefs were being forced to cook outside in the searing heat without proper shade.

The contestants were given caps, but were cooking under the hot sun. Credit: Channel Ten

The contestants were given caps, but were cooking under the hot sun. Credit: Channel Ten

“Oh my goodness, they are out in the blazing Doha sun, cooking, with no shade,” one worried viewer wrote online.

“I get that Qatar Airways/tourism paid them a lot of money, but forcing the contestants to cook in a desert is insane,” another wrote.

“Making them cook in 40° heat, next to a stove, on hot sand, WITH NO SHADE is a new level of evil,” a third person added.

 

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While each of the contestants was given caps to wear during the challenge, the temperature was still clearly an issue, with Callum telling the cameras that his dough was sticking and breaking due to the extreme heat of the bench.

Meanwhile, Ben could be seen misting himself with water by the freezer in an attempt to cool down while Jamie wrapped a towel around his neck to protect himself from exposure.

Callum had trouble with his dough due to the heat, while Sarah could be seen sipping water. Credit: Channel Ten

Callum had trouble with his dough due to the heat, while Sarah could be seen sipping water. Credit: Channel Ten

“I’m actually really annoyed and disappointed by the lack of shade provided for the contestants,” one fan raged. “Australia has the highest rates for skin cancer in the world, so I would’ve thought they’d know better than to make the contestants spend hours in the desert sun unprotected.”

“Wtf are these contestants made to wait in the sun?” another asked. “They all are dripping with sweat, forehead veins popping, looking like they’re about to pass out.”

“I can’t fully concentrate on their cooking because I keep thinking about the sun and their exposed skin,” another comment reads.

“Are they trying to kill the contestants?” someone else wondered. “40-degree heat, no shade, walking on sand. This was a terrible idea. What about the safety of the food, that fish and meat will be getting so warm?”

And yet another pointed out that shade was available, just not to the contestants, it seemed.

“They have umbrellas right there! but didn’t think to place any of them OVER the contestants?!!” they wrote.

“This episode is doing my head in with the lack of duty of care,” someone else lamented. “Sticking them out in 40-degree heat. To cook. With small caps on. Really poor work MasterChef producers.”

Despite the treacherous conditions, the crew survived the challenge, with Callum and Jamie being awarded immunity for the week after serving up the two best dishes.