Deep fried Mars bars not part of a healthy diet. Shocking, we know.

Scotland conjures up images of kilts, rugby, Sean Connery and most importantly, deep-fried Mars bars. A fish bar in Aberdeenshire claims to be the birthplace of the recipe, but Mars has sought to distance itself from the iconic product.

By Declan Whooley

According to The Scotsman, not only has Mars sought to distance itself from the fatty product, they have also issued a disclaimer as it ‘does not fit into the company’s promotion of healthy living’.

As ironic as it may seem that a chocolate firm is concerned with promotion of healthy eating, they reacted quickly on hearing that Lorraine Watson, owner of Stonehaven fish and chip shop, had considered applying to the European Union’s Protected Food Name Scheme to secure their invention. Cornish pasties, champagne and Parma Ham are protected under this particular scheme.

A Mars spokesperson said no application had been received, but even if it had it would have been rejected.

“Unfortunately, we wouldn't be able to support it as deep-frying one of our products would go against our commitment to promoting healthy, active lifestyles,” the spokesperson said, presumably with a straight face.

Mrs. Watson decided against going ahead with the application because of the paperwork involved but was still sent a disclaimer by Mars lawyers which she has put on display in the shop.

“We have been selling this deep fried Mars product for 20 years and this is the first time we have heard from Mars," she said.

She went on to say that they have never promoted the product as healthy, but that it is hugely popular with tourists, selling up to 150 bars a week.

“We get visitors from all over the world, from as far afield as Japan and America, coming to the shop and ordering our bar,” the shop owner added.

There is nothing quite like a chocolate firm getting precious over healthy living.