# Biscuit question for British 'Dopers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 18, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biscuit-question-for-british-dopers/155874 "2003-02-18T13:46:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biscuit-question-for-british-dopers/155874/41 "2003-02-27T13:32:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\*Jaffa cake not Jaffa cafe … idiot ! \*\* I can’t believe you even put the acute accent on the e. 😃 Look, it’s even _called_ a cake. How much more proof do you need? It’s like a cupcake that’s had a nasty accident. Mint tea? Well… that’s… um… well it’s just different. See? Will provide more research, if you don’t think Nicey’s expert enough. _haughty sniff_ ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biscuit-question-for-british-dopers/155874/42 "2003-02-27T13:34:12Z")
Didn’t find the answer, but I [**did find this**](http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_612247.html?menu=news.quirkies)! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biscuit-question-for-british-dopers/155874/43 "2003-02-27T13:37:12Z")
[Aha](http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/food_and_beverages/food/jaffa_cakes/_review/408182/)! > [@](#): > > In 1991 the British government tried to get the Jaffa Cake reclassified as a biscuit as biscuits attract VAT of 17.5% whereas cakes are VAT free. Mcvities won their case by arguing that Jaffas were cakes, because when cakes are stale they go hard and buscuits go soft. [More here](http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-21383,00.html). ---
**Author:** ![pasty2003](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@pasty2003](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pasty2003)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biscuit-question-for-british-dopers/155874/44 "2003-02-27T13:44:05Z")
There was a famous case on the Jaffa cakes to do with tax. Cakes are in a taxed more than biscuits. But McVities always paid the biscuit tax so the tax man took them to court. Of course mcvities calls it a cake and this was the prosecutions case. McVities argued successfully that it was in fact a biscuit. It was decided that if it could … Hang on, i did do a law degree but not sure bout the rest (only went to City, London). Think it was something like if it could be left out over night and still be edible it was a biscuit. I am sure i will be corrected on this if need be… ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biscuit-question-for-british-dopers/155874/45 "2003-02-27T13:53:50Z")
Nonsense ! Idle speculation !! I suspect I have you by the short an’ curlies: Look [here](http://www.hmce.gov.uk/forms/notices/701-14.htm) under ‘ **3.4.2 Biscuits** ’ Official Government recognition. What say you now, good sir ? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biscuit-question-for-british-dopers/155874/46 "2003-02-27T13:58:39Z")
jjimm writes: \> BTW, what’s a Fig Newton? Is that an American fig roll? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biscuit-question-for-british-dopers/155874/47 "2003-02-27T14:07:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\*Official Government recognition. What say you now, good sir ? \*\* Engarde! If it is a biscuit, why is it exempt from tax? _checks page again_ Oh bugger. Hoist with my own pederast. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biscuit-question-for-british-dopers/155874/48 "2003-02-27T14:11:15Z")
But WAIT. Here’s the word from [United Biscuits](http://www.unitedbiscuits.com/80256C1A0047922E/vWeb/pcTSTT5EPGEB) themselves: > [@](#): > > Back in 1991, we fought a battle with the VAT man to prove that Jaffa Cakes are cakes, not biscuits, and therefore should not attract VAT. Goddammit, man, it’s made of cake, it’s called “cake”, and it quacks like a cake. ---
**Author:** ![NotMrKnowItAll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6bbea6/32.png) [@NotMrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotMrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biscuit-question-for-british-dopers/155874/49 "2003-02-27T14:13:13Z")
> [@](#): > > Oh bugger. Hoist with my own pederast. > [@](#): > > I suspect I have you by the short an’ curlies pederast? Must be painful. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biscuit-question-for-british-dopers/155874/50 "2003-02-27T14:27:17Z")
[python] Er, **jjimm** some years ago you were the center of, er, controversy both from your own medical colleagues and from the Church when you grafted a pederast onto an Anglican bishop. [/python] ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biscuit-question-for-british-dopers/155874/51 "2003-02-27T14:38:52Z")
I wish to complain about this pederast what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very boutique. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > Goddammit, man, it’s made of cake, it’s called “cake”, and it quacks like a cake. According to the Government it’s a biscuit, and I can dunk it, therefore it is a biscuit. Legally _and_ practically. Everything else is speculation and quacking company propaganda. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biscuit-question-for-british-dopers/155874/52 "2003-02-27T14:43:31Z")
Let me remind you that it was Major’s lot that named it a biscuit. I’m sticking with my Old Labour proletarian cake, thank you very much. BTW, my Jaffa Cake’s quack doesn’t echo. And nobody knows why. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biscuit-question-for-british-dopers/155874/53 "2003-02-27T14:48:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*Goddammit, man, it’s made of cake, it’s called “cake”, and it quacks like a cake. \*\* BEDEVERE: Exactly. So, logically… VILLAGER #1: If… she… weighs… the same as a duck,… she’s made of wood. BEDEVERE: And therefore? VILLAGER #2: A witch! VILLAGER #1: A witch! CROWD: A witch! A witch!.. VILLAGER #4: Here is a duck. Use this duck. [quack quack quack] BEDEVERE: Very good. We shall use my largest scales. CROWD: Ohh! Ohh! Burn the witch! Burn the witch! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Ahh! Ahh… BEDEVERE: Right. Remove the supports! [whop] [clunk] [creak] CROWD: A witch! A witch! A witch! WITCH: It’s a fair cop. VILLAGER #3: Burn her! CROWD: Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn! Burn!.. BEDEVERE: Who are you who are so wise in the ways of science? ARTHUR: I am Arthur, King of the Britons. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biscuit-question-for-british-dopers/155874/54 "2003-02-27T15:03:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > Let me remind you that it was Major’s lot that named it a biscuit. I’m sticking with my Old Labour proletarian cake, thank you very much. > > BTW, my Jaffa Cake’s quack doesn’t echo. And nobody knows why. Ahhh, Old Labour. Thus it comes as no surprise that you want your cake and to eat it too. 😉 … I’m starting to worry **Desmostylus** may have overloaded on the sugar buzz. BTW, greeting to the several new and newish Brit dopers I’ve seen in this thread. Nice to have you aboard! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biscuit-question-for-british-dopers/155874/55 "2003-02-27T15:13:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > **Ahhh, Old Labour. Thus it comes as no surprise that you want your cake and to eat it too. 😉** I take off my spurs and hand them to you. I can’t beat that line. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biscuit-question-for-british-dopers/155874.md?page=2)