A row has broken out over claims farmers would still be able to market their produce as British in an independent Scotland.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said Britain was a geographical term and businesses “could chose to continue to refer to themselves as British if they wished”.
He made the remarks in a letter to north-east Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald who asked if the union flag trademark could still be used on food following a Yes vote.
Mr Lochhead said: “Scottish farmers would still be able to market their product as ‘Produce of Britain’.”
The Moray MSP added: “‘Scotland’ and ‘Scottish’ already has strong international brand recognition and the Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb labels are globally renowned.
“For Scottish producers, using the Scottish brand in this way provides a valuable and unique selling benefit.”
Bur Mr Macdonald said the remarks were a “desperate effort by the SNP to persuade voters it was safe to vote Yes on September 18.
“People who thought the British Government, British Army and British produce were all to do with the United Kingdom will be astonished to find a government minister who thinks ‘Britain’ is only a geographic expression,” he added.
“The SNP want voters to believe that they have nothing to lose by voting yes.
“This is perhaps the first time they have said you can vote for a separate Scotland and still call yourself British.
“Farmers currently have the best of both worlds, because they can sell their premium produce worldwide under the Scottish brand and sell everything else in Britain as home-produced.”
A spokesman for Mr Lochhead hit back at the Labour MSP.
“If Lewis MacDonald thinks that ‘British’ is purely a political term then he clearly needs to go back to school and do a geography class,” he said.
“Scotland’s reputation for quality food and drink is recognised globally and our food and drink sector has never been stronger, with a record turnover of more than £13billion.
“Countries like Ireland and Denmark supply billions of pounds of produce to supermarket shelves in England and Wales so there is no reason whatsoever why Scotland, with our excellent reputation for top quality produce, would not do likewise.”