Dragons' Den has found itself at the centre of another controversy after the latest episode featured a pitch of a product which viewers reckon should be 'illegal'.
Although the BBC show is often an incredible stepping stone to success for a lot of small businesses, sometimes the entrepreneurs end up wishing they hadn't gone on it.
The broadcaster previously had to pull one of the episodes back in January amid safety fears over an 'ear seeds' pitch and it is now facing further backlash after a family-run firm tried to gain investment for an 'unethical' skincare range.
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During the Dragons' Den episode which aired on Thursday (7 March), viewers were introduced to businessman Nick King, who works alongside his two sons Daniel and Ricky.
The trio made an instant impression when they walked through the iconic lift doors with a two-week-old goat in tow, which they passed around the multimillionaires to feed.
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Nick explained that they were looking for a £30,000 investment in return for 10 per cent of their skincare business, Goats of the Gorge, which produces goats-milk based beauty products.
He explained that he had been inspired to create a line for people with sensitive skin - including soaps, bath salts, face cream and shampoos - after being informed of the benefits of goats milk for people who suffer from eczema or psoriasis.
The former policeman explained he was advised to drink the stuff to help sooth his osteoporosis, as it contains high levels of calcium, before he then realised its full potential.
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Nick was particularly keen to get Peter Jones and Steven Bartlett onboard, saying: "The combination would drive direct online sales through social media and open some of the bigger chains which we've been trying to get into."
After the Dragons recovered from the distraction of the baby goat that had been brought along, they then got down to business and began quizzing the dad about the details of his company.
Self-confessed animal lover Deborah Meaden said that she 'carefully' considers the use of animal products.
She told the family: "I don’t eat any animal product, whether dairy or animal, I’m not so strict on the skincare as long as it’s high welfare animals, so what sits behind this in terms of welfare?"
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The Goats of the Gorge team explained that all their animals were 'very well-looked after', while adding that they were 'show goats' who's milk was being 'put to good use' rather than thrown away.
They insisted that all of their products were palm-oil free and 'cruelty-free'.
Meaden responded: "That’s a good answer. I’m not that supportive of the dairy industry or the goat industry, which I would cause you a problem.
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"Whilst what you’re doing at the moment, you’re quite small scale, you can see the goats you’re buying from, but as you get bigger, you’ll have to think about those things, and I’m going to stand in your way, because I’m going to be saying you can’t do that."
Sara Davies also pointed out that there was already a 'big company in America that does this', who she said had grown to a 'ginormous' scale.
Ultimately, Nick, his two sons, Daniel and Ricky, ended up walking away empty handed as the Dragons' believed the market was quite saturated as it is, but viewers were more concerned about another aspect of the pitch.
One wrote: "Hmm, not sure about cruelty free. Where you use animal products, there's cruelty."
Another said: "This is dairy industry business so without a doubt it is not cruelty free!"
A third added: "No deal for goat’s milk beauty products! Thank goodness! Goat’s milk is for baby goats – not slathering on human skin!"
And a fourth chimed in: "Talking about goat products such as goat milk and soap and bringing on a goat, is that ethical?"
But others said they were 'gutted' that the family firm hadn't received any investment and said they were very interested in checking out their product range.
LADbible have contacted the BBC and Goats of the Gorge for comment.
Topics: BBC, Dragons Den, Animals, Social Media
Olivia Burke