A consignment of two thousand tonnes of Scottish seed potatoes are being exported to Russia by food and drinks giant PepsiCo, with official approval from Scottish government has caused severe criticism at a time when many large companies have ended their trade with Russia. Pepsi itself has suspended the sale of Pepsi-Cola and other drinks.

The Times said the parent company of Walkers and Lays crisps has the required phytosanitary certification provided by SASA, a division of the Scottish Govt Agriculture and Rural Delivery Directorate.

The deal with the company Saltire Seed, will see the potatoes sent in a convoy of 100 lorries as most ports are closed and will be used as part of the Russian snacks market. The deal itself is thought to be worth £600,000.

Pepsi has insisted that the potato deal should go ahead as the Scottish government is facilitating it by providing the necessary labels and certification.

A spokesperson for Pepsico said: “In the interests of future food production we continue to support farmers in both the Ukraine and Russia as they face significant challenges and uncertainty ahead.

“We also continue our long relationship with Scottish seed growers as the potato growing life cycle spans over many years and these potato seeds, which have taken four years to nurture to this point, will not be harvested until 2023 in Russia.”

Scottish Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands,Rachael Hamilton told The Scotsman that the deal would sit uncomfortably with many, given Russia’s appalling invasion of Ukraine.

“Questions will need to be answered as to why the SNP Government approved the deal at this time."

Patrick Hughes of the Scottish Agri Export Hub said that while there were no legal barriers to export, the supply chain logistics to ship the seeds were likely to be problematic.

But he admitted that it has been a difficult year for seed growers due to the loss of the EU market which has forced growers to look for alternative markets.

Iryna Terlecky, the head of the Association of Ukrainians in Britain, said it was wrong to approve the exports. ‘We hope that they will reconsider and do what is morally right,’ she told The Times.