London - For two decades, it has been a firm favourite of tourists and peckish schoolboys. But it seems the deep-fried Mars Bar is not so popular with the firm behind its key ingredient.
Confectionery giant Mars has written to the Scottish chip shop which created the calorific snack asking them to make clear on their menu that is not “authorised or endorsed” by the company – because it does not meet its “healthy” image.
The letter says Mars is “flattered” that the Carron Fish Bar in Stonehaven has chosen to feature its chocolate bar, but adds: “As you may know, we have recently reduced the saturated fat level in our Mars Bar recipe. Deep frying our Mars Bar product, of course, counters this significantly.”
The letter, from the company’s lawyers, adds that the dish is “not in line” with their marketing code of promoting a “healthy active lifestyle”.
Lorraine Watson, who runs the fish and chip shop with her husband Charlie, said: “I was amazed when I got the lawyer’s letter because I really feel they are giving me a slap on the wrist when I haven’t tried to offend them.”
Watson, whose shop proclaims it is the “birthplace of the world famous deep-fried Mars Bar”, added: “We have been selling this deep-fried Mars product for 20 years and this is the first time we have heard from Mars.
“But we are quite happy to put a disclaimer on the main menu for the shop because I don’t want any reason for them to come back and try some sort of court action against me.
“I didn’t know they had reduced the saturated fat content. But, of course, the deep-fried Mars Bar isn’t healthy. We have never said it was.
“I am proud of the product - it does my business very well and it must be doing their business very well.”
The deep-fried Mars Bar was created when a schoolboy asked to have his favourite snack smothered in batter and plunged into the fryer at the chippy. Watson said they now sell between 100 and 150 every week. - Daily Mail