IN his Address to a Haggis, Robert Burns lauded Scotland's national dish as the "great chieftain o' the puddinrace".

But under the latest drive to improve the health of Scotland's children, officials have placed the celebrated delicacy on a restricted list of foods beside chicken nuggets, burgers and hot dogs.

New guidelines on nutrition for nursery schools recommend that warm-reekin haggis should be eaten only once a week by the under-fives, as with other processed meat products.

The Scottish Executive, which compiled the report with NHS Health Scotland, insisted that the guidelines would improve the health of nursery-age children.

"We know that haggis is very tasty and enjoyable but, given the relatively high fat and salt content in the food, we feel it is better that it is restricted for younger people, " said a spokeswoman.

However, the classification provoked concern among traditional haggis producers, who claimed the speciality was far healthier than other foods on the list.

Alan Pirie, from the Angus butcher James Pirie & Sons, described haggis as good, healthy eating. "It's very nourishing and a good natural product. It is not processed in the same way as chicken nuggets or beefburgers and it contains other ingredients, such as oatmeal and onions, " he said.

Jo Macsween, director of Macsween Haggis of Edinburgh, a family firm established in 1953, said she was increasingly worried about too much state intervention in the production of traditional foods.

"I don't know what Robert Burns would make of this. I am sorry we are labelled as a processed meat, because that is not how we see it. If you compare our haggis with other products we often have half the salt and are lower in fat, " she said.

However, although nutritionists said that haggis was a more natural product than some processed foods, there was support for its being restricted to once a week.

Dr Ann Payne, lecturer in nutrition at Glasgow Caledonian University, said: "Haggis contains a good mix of proteins, iron and fibre from the meat and the oatmeal, and when you have it with neeps and tatties you've got a solid, healthy meal.

"However, while I would not put it in the same category as chicken nuggets or burgers, it does tend to be high in animal fats and it has a high salt content."

Under the new executive guidelines, which have been issued to nurseries, playgroups and childminders, childcare providers will be expected to cut out sweets and chocolate for pre-school children at snack times.

The report recommends that snack food such as fruit and raw vegetables should be served to pre-school children instead of soft drinks, sweets, chocolate and sugary treats.

The guidance includes recommendations on nutritious meals, advice on healthy eating habits, and information on dental health and physical activity. It also recommends that children should be given a dessert even if they do not eat their main course.

An executive spokeswoman said it was better for a young children to have some food inside them than to go without completely. "The dessert options we recommend are very healthy these days and children need something to get them through the day even if they don't want their main course.

"It also means food times will be a positive experience rather than a battleground."

Richard Woolfson, an educational psychologist, agreed with the recommendation. "If you try and blackmail a threeyear-old with a chocolate pudding, it will only make them think their vegetables are less desirable than they did before, " he said.

"It is best not to turn this situation into a confrontation. Children won't eat unless they are in a relaxed, carefree atmosphere. If confrontation is a hallmark of mealtime then that will be disastrous."

Robert Brown, deputy education minister, said children were more likely to eat healthily as they got older if they were encouraged to do so at an early age.

"Healthy eating is vital for all children and they're never too young to develop a taste for healthy options, " he said.

"Wholesome meals and snacks give children the nutrients and energy they need for their nursery day, but there will also be long-term health benefits."

WHAT'S IN A HAGGIS

Typical values* per 100g

Energy 310kcal

Lamb offal, beef fat, oatmeal, water, onion, salt, pepper, spices.

Protein 10.7g

Carbs 19.2g

Fat 21.7g (of which saturates 7.6g)

*An average of eight samples of commercially sold haggis