Bakery apologises over calorie-laden meal deal for pupils

bell baxter: Cupar dad incensed by promotion of unhealthy lunch

A Fife bakery firm has apologised over using a school’s crest on calorific meal deal promotional posters without its knowledge.

The Bell Baxter Lunch Deal, where Fisher and Donaldson was selling a sausage roll and two glazed doughrings for a bargain basement £1, was brought to The Courier’s attention by an incensed dad of two.

He believed the school would be unaware its name and crest were being used in the poster at its Cupar branch.

“My children normally eat within the school.

“However, as a treat they are given extra money to go down the town once a week with their friends to have lunch out.

“At this age, it is hard enough to convince high school children to eat healthily but to see this poster infuriates me.”

He argued sausage rolls contained “very little in the way of nutrients”.

“If it was not bad enough to have a glazed doughring for lunch, here we have a bakery offering two and for the bargain price of £1.

“The total calories within this lunch would be around 1,000.

“What chance do we have as parents trying to advise our kids of picking the healthy option when we have Fisher and Donaldson promoting this mouthwatering deal.

“With childhood obesity now a hot topic, surely local business should be trying to support parents/schools and children in choosing healthier options.”

Bell Baxter rector Phil Black said: “As a school, and in line with Fife Council policy, we promote a healthy and active lifestyle to our pupils.

“We weren’t aware of this promotion and it isn’t something we have endorsed, therefore the company should not be using the school name or crest in their poster.

“We understand that the poster has now been taken down.”

A spokesperson for the firm apologised unreservedly and confirmed the offending poster had been removed.

“It was simply used as a promotion for a new line, and was a strictly temporary offer to grab the attention of locals,” he said.

“We did not mean to imply the school had endorsed it.”

At this age, it is hard enough to convince high school children to eat healthily but to see this poster infuriates me.

The firm was offering a hot sausage roll and two doughrings for only £1.