Minister’s tablet recipe spat leaves a sour taste
A quintessentially Scottish treat was at the centre of a political storm-in-a-bakingtray yesterday after a minister posted a tablet recipe online only to be criticised for promoting confectionary that includes sugar.
Maree Todd, the Scottish children’s minister, put her recipe on Twitter after delivering a batch of tablet to a summer camp for young people in care run by the charity Who Cares? Scotland. After posting pictures of the homemade tablet being cooked, Ms Todd shared her recipe, which included 2lbs of sugar, 4oz of butter and a can of condensed milk.
But her political opponents were quick to condemn the sugary treat, linking Ms Todd’s recipe to the Scottish Government’s plan to combat the rising tide of obesity.
A Scottish Conservative spokesman said: “Considering her position as the minister for childcare and early years, many parents would rather their children didn’t use a recipe that requires two pounds of sugar.
“It’s clear that when the SNP try to encourage healthy eating it’s do as I say not as I do.”
Yesterday Ms Todd hit back at her critics, pointing out that she posted the recipe as part of a charitable venture and that she was not suggesting it as an everyday snack.
“I shared the recipe because I had spent a lot of time hand making a treat for care experienced young folk for their summer camp,” she said.
“What better way to show love than a holiday treat. What better way to show love than taking time to make something by hand. What better way to encourage love in the care system than by modelling it.
“Occasional treats which make you feel loved are good for your health. The real story is about love. Love in the care system, precious memories evoked in recipes, and the love with which we cook and eat together.”
Jamie Kinlochan, Who Cares? Scotland’s public affairs manager, added: “A few cubes of homemade tablet eaten at summer camp full of activities isn’t driving poor public health. There’s structural and ideological decisions that need examined before we go there.”
Meanwhile on Twitter users sprang to the defence of tablet, including Ms Todd’s ministerial colleague Roseanna Cunningham, who wrote: “Seems to me that @Scottories could try a little of @Mareetoddmsp tablet instead of the bitter lemons they’ve obviously been sucking.” Laura Waddell wrote: “The miserable and petty response to @Mareetoddmsp’s tablet leaves such a bad taste in the mouth I’m going to have to make some.”
newsdeskts@scotsman.com