Greggs forced to apologise for replacing baby Jesus with a sausage roll

Just because when you say ‘Jesus’ backwards it sounds a bit like ‘sausage’ doesn’t mean the two are interchangeable.

Greggs found this out the hard way, after being forced to apologise for an advert promoting their 2017 advent calendar which had a sausage roll (the original style, not the American ‘creation’) in place of the baby Jesus in a nativity scene.

It’s fair to say the promotion has not gone down as well as the bakery’s summer diet plan, with a fair bit of backlash coming their way.

Rev Mark Edwards, the vicar at two churches in the North East of England, told the Chronicle: “This seems very disrespectful towards the nativity scene”, while others pointed out the irony of a Jewish baby being depicted with a non-kosher meat.

For most people, it wasn’t a big deal, and the more important thing was getting more than £30 worth of Greggs food in a £24 advent calendar.

However, the bakers clearly care about their customers, and have issued a statement apologising for the offence caused by the promotional material.

“We’re really sorry to have caused any offence, this was never our intention,” a Greggs spokeswoman told the Northern Echo.

The Greggs advent calendar will go on sale from 20 November, with vouchers behind each of its 24 doors entitling you to free sausage rolls, festive bakes and other food and drink from the chain.

Only a handful of branches up and down the UK will be stocking the calendars, which are limited to 500 per store.

According to reports, the vouchers inside are worth a total of at least £35, but a select few will also include an extra £25 gift card to bring the total up to £60.

(Images: Greggs/Frinkiac)