A Carse of Gowrie firm which produces award-winning crisps is coming to terms with one of its brands being banned in America.
Taypack Potatoes, based near Inchture, supplies Mackie’s crisps and the firm is aiming to break into the lucrative export market.
However, this move has received a major setback with Mackie’s Aberdeen Angus beef-flavoured crisps being banned in America over fears about BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy), which can cause the brain condition known as ‘mad cow disease.’
BSE came to the fore in 1986 and reached its peak in 1993, with around 1,000 infected cattle being identified each week. Farms across the country were forced to introduce strict measures.
Mackie’s moved on to its crisps range following its production of ice cream. Its Scotch Bonnet crisps recently won a gold star at the 2011 Great Taste Awards and also won the Snacking Category Award at the Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Awards 2011.
The crisps are popular in Europe, Japan and Hong Kong, and the firm was hopeful of capturing the American market. However, the ban has forced the company to produce an alternative brand.
Kirstin Mackie (42), managing director at Mackie’s of Taypack, explained: ”The ban is something we never even thought about as the BSE outbreak was so long ago and we have the stringest regulations here to ensure the highest quality and safety. America is the only country to ban the beef used in our crisps.
”Aberdeen Angus is one of our top-selling flavours and in order to crack the US market the toughest and one of the most lucrative for crisps we had to change our recipe to beef-free.
”I had travelled to New York last year in a bid to sound out the market and had a stall at a food event. There was an incredible interest.”
Mackie’s of Taypack will now produce a vegetarian version for the American market, which will taste of steak but not contain any meat products.
Around 15 staff work at Mackie’s of Taypack factory in the Carse of Gowrie. It’s understood the factory produces around 15 million bags of crisps per year. The firm hopes to begin selling its range of crisps in America shortly.
The ban from America will not affect Mackie’s haggis-flavoured crisps as they are made from pork. However, one of Scotland’s favourite dishes, the haggis, will not be permitted to be exported to the US due to the sheep’s lungs ingredient.
The Scottish Government are trying to have the ban lifted.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: ”I am delighted to hear Scottish companies such as Mackie’s continue to maximise the potential of the American market despite import restrictions on beef.”
The worldwide ban on the export of UK beef was lifted in 2006. It is thought around 4.4 million cattle were destroyed in the UK as a result of BSE.