Roll with it! Campaigners want Scots breakfast staple to be given cultural recognition... but do they mean soft or crispy?!

By LETTICE BROMOVSKY, NEWS REPORTER Published: 21:13, 15 July 2026 | Updated: 21:13, 15 July 2026 It has become as Scottish as whisky and haggis and is a morning treat for millions. But now, UNESCO could soon be asked to recognise one of Scotland’s best-loved everyday traditions as part of the world’s living cultural heritage. These refer to the living traditions, customs, skills, and knowledge that communities pass from generation to generation. An ambitious campaign hopes to preserve the humble morning roll alongside globally recognised cultural customs as ‘living heritage’. Already gracing the list is the baguette from France, tea from China and Neapolitan pizzas from Naples in Italy. New research, carried out by McGhee’s Bakery, crowned bacon the nation’s favourite morning roll filling, beating the mighty square sausage in a poll . The survey of more than 1,000 Scots found 34 per cent reach for bacon first thing in the morning, while 27 per cent remain loyal to square sausage. Bacon is apparently the nation’s favourite morning roll filling Egg came third on 14 per cent, followed by sausage links on nine per cent and black pudding on four per cent. And if that wasn’t enough to get breakfast tables arguing, Scots are just as divided over the roll itself. Almost half (47 per cent) reckon the perfect morning roll should be soft and fluffy, while 30 per cent prefer a crispy bite and 17 per cent insist nothing beats a well-fired roll. The survey has been donated to food historian Peter Gilchrist, who launched the Good Morning Rolls campaign in a bid to convince UNESCO that Scotland’s breakfast ritual deserves recognition alongside other treasured cultural traditions. Mr Gilchrist said: ‘Scottish culture isn’t just found in museums or wrapped in tartan. Sometimes it’s in a butter-stained paper bag. ‘I hope schoolchildren a century from now will be comparing their own morning roll orders to ours today.’