UK sandwich shop chain withdraws ' Virgin Mary' crisps
London, Feb 3 : A sandwich shop chain by the name of Pret A Manger has withdrawn a new 'Virgin Mary' brand of crisps following religious complaints.
The firm, which launched the spicy tomato crisps - based on the non-alcoholic version of a Bloody Mary cocktail - last week, has withdrawn the product to avoid offence, the BBC reported.
Talking about the brand, the Catholic groups said that it was an offensive reference to Jesus's mother.
The company spokesman said it had noted complaints' "strength of feeling" and have tried to react quickly.
"It didn't take many complaints. It's the strength of feeling that's behind them that's important. For the sake of a particular flavour of crisps, we don't want anyone offended," he said.
The company, which has about 350 shops in the UK, said that they were extremely sorry that the crisp name that they had selected has offended the Catholics and that it was not their intention.
It added that the unsold crisps would be donated to homeless charities across the country.