East West Spice Greenock posted a picture of the box, which includes four different battered suppers, chips, onion rings, fritters and a two litre bottle of Irn-Bru, on its Facebook page, before Scotsman journalist Ross McCafferty reposted the pic on Twitter kicking off a heated debate.
With some people labelling the offer “vile” and a “heart attack in a box”, food writer Joanna Blythman was enraged about what she deemed was the “promotion” of such an unhealthy meal.
One of Scotland’s defects: celebrating crap food. No wonder so many Scots are fat and sick. Via @BrianSJ3 https://t.co/7TxJiMCfCP
— Joanna Blythman (@JoannaBlythman) August 19, 2018
Others followed up with scathing Tweets about its unhealthy qualities:
https://twitter.com/Holbornlolz/status/1031471739270774785
https://twitter.com/alansmith1972/status/1031560770121867265
It looks so bland.
Never mind unhealthy.— Robert Ryan (@Boab10s) August 19, 2018
No, you couldn't; maybe 2 meals at best.
And you shouldn't because nutritionally, it's crap.
For £10, you could get enough veg for about 3-4 days, and far better for you and your family.
— Tony Sutcliffe 💙🔶️ (@tonys2009) August 20, 2018
Just looking at it pic.twitter.com/cAPNck3GyT
— David Ziggy Greene (Illustrator?) (@SaHreports) August 19, 2018
I really dunno how Scots get past childhood
— Taylor (@dtaylor5633) August 19, 2018
Eventually, Ross, who didn't even buy the box in the first place began to get fed up with people messaging him:
Cheers to everyone getting in touch to tell me that a box full of deep fried and battered food is unhealthy.
I was about to recommend it for athletes
— Ross McCafferty (@RossMcCaff) August 20, 2018
Some people were completely confused as to what some of the items in the box actually were:
https://twitter.com/HMorganThompson/status/1031260365257093120
Ross quickly cleared this up pointing out that they were fritters:
https://twitter.com/HMorganThompson/status/1031263225831202825
Thankfully, this discussion was helpful to a few non-Scots:
https://twitter.com/CynthiaHalatyn/status/1031269897400209410
Others seemed to want to make additions to what was in the box:
that's the unseen starter, naturally
— Ross McCafferty (@RossMcCaff) August 19, 2018
Isn’t this missing the fried Mars bars? 😜
— Sonia A 🇮🇪🇪🇺🇫🇷 #RejoinEU (@OnnyPonny) August 20, 2018
Do you pour the iron bru on it? Cos that’s drier than the back of me kneecap
— Dilly (@JDill1996) August 19, 2018
While others still were even confused by what country it was from:
I feel attacked on about 7 different levels pic.twitter.com/ABuTiqxYOb
— Ross McCafferty (@RossMcCaff) August 20, 2018
Some saw the value in the deal:
https://twitter.com/tgreig76/status/1031261965459619840
While others thought it looked great:
I'm a total health freak..I even grow my own fruit and veg but maynnnnn I'd have a crack at this lot! Real treats there 😍 #wantit #foodporn
— Kate Ellis (@Kateell777) August 20, 2018
https://twitter.com/craigmair1138/status/1031263748936359936
When someone mentioned a vegetarian option:
The vegetarian option is to drink the bottle of Irn Bru, and eat the box.
— Ross McKay (@RossMc11) August 19, 2018
The post made some people come over all patriotic:
*Looks to horizon, puts hand on heart and quietly sings 'Caledonia' while a single tear tracks down cheek* https://t.co/4egxmgoLwS
— Jamie Borthwick (@jamiekborthwick) August 20, 2018
https://twitter.com/GlasWolf/status/1031291513299521538
While others fired in their own pop culture references:
If that box was in the X-Men universe it would be known as “Diabeto”
— Greg Enston (@GregEnston) August 20, 2018
This user got a little philosophical about the whole thing:
Those living comfortably always think about a health debate.
Those living on min wage would welcome such generosity
that hands them a good family night in for £10.— Man (@mtc_london) August 20, 2018
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