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Holyrood starts serving posh variant of infamous deep fried Mars Bar

Filo pastry Mars bar
Filo pastry Mars bar

It is one of the most talked about dishes in Scotland and usually for the wrong reasons.

The humble deep fried Mars Bar is frequently derided by healthy eating enthusiasts who turn up their noses at the thought.

But yesterday the Scottish Parliament served up a variant of the dessert, sold in chip shops across the country, as part of a special lunch-time menu in the garden cafe which is used by MSPs and staff.

Caterers Sodexo decided to “posh it up” and serve it in filo pastry instead of batter.

Although the rest of the menu providing calorie information for each dish, there was no figure beside the Mars bar which cost £1.05.

Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy posted photographs of the menu and dish, which was not deep fried, on social media.

He wrote: “Here’s the healthy option from today’s ‘chip shop’ themed menu in the Scottish Parliament. #healthy Scotland.

“Now here is a defeat for national stereotypes – cooked Mars Bar, not deep fried but in filo pastry.

The Scottish National Food and Drink Policy published in June 2009 is aimed at working with the food and drink industry to “enable and support consumers to make healthier and more sustainable choices”.

One recommendation stated: “There is however an urgent need, to consider ways in which further impetus can be given to improvements in the catering sector in Scotland to change the image from the ‘deep fried mars bar capital of Europe.”

Aberdeen Donside SNP MSP Mark McDonald, who represents a city famed for Rowies which accounts for almost half 49% of your daily saturated fat recommendation, declined to sample the chocolate filo treat.

“As I am trying to get thin I declined to partake,” he said.

“I once tried a deep fried mars bar in my errant youth – once was enough.

“I had a tasty salad and a bowl of soup, plenty of healthy options on offer.”

A Holyrood spokeswoman said the menu was chosen by catering company Sodexo.

A Sodexo spokeswoman said: “Healthy options were also available today such as grilled chicken, salad dishes and fresh fruit salad pots as part of offering a balanced choice of menu options to customers.

“Last year the team at Scottish Parliament won a healthier living award at the Catering in Scotland Excellence Awards for their efforts to promote healthy lifestyles among the local community.”