The return of the pasty tax: Greggs to put VAT on its snacks after complaints about food being cooled down to avoid levy Baker chain will now serve more hot food subject to controversial tax Response is to customer complaints about cold food The company lobbied MPs over the 'pasty tax' Pastygate took a new turn today when a leading High Street baker announced it will now sell more hot snacks that are subject to 20 per cent VAT. Six months after forcing the government into a U-turn over the infamous pasty tax, Greggs said it will trial pasties, sausage rolls and other hot food, all be subject to VAT at 20 per cent. Greggs bakes savouries in-store at its 1,600 branches before leaving them to cool. Hot food at Greggs. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne tucking into a Cornish pasty. His controversial 'pasty tax' was blasted by Greggs, but the company will now sell hot food subject to the the VAT levy It was this method of selling hot food that enabled Greggs, following extensive lobbying of MPs, to escape the imposition of 20 per cent VAT slapped on hot takeaway food in the 2012 Budget. Chancellor George Osborne originally announced plans to raise £110 million by levying 20 per cent VAT on hot baked goods at the Budget. The move prompted a huge outcry, with critics accusing ministers of waging class warfare against pasty eaters. Hundreds of bakers protested outside Downing Street during a day of action over the controversial 'pasty tax' in April last year. The action was organised by Greggs, the National Association of Master Bakers and the Cornish Pasty Association Feedback from customers on Greggs' Facebook page shows many customers are unhappy if they are served lukewarm or cold savouries which they thought would be hot. A spokesman for Greggs said it had begun experimenting with increasing the amount of hot food it serves in stores. According to the Chancellor, a hot pasty that is allowed to cool before sale would not attract the 20 per cent charge, while one which is sold hot would Although she could not confirm which products were being trialled, they are likely to include Cornish pasties, steak bakes, sausage rolls and pizza slices. The spokesman said: 'Greggs already offers toasted sandwiches but is looking at extending the range of food that could be served hot or heated up. If something is served hot, it will attract VAT. The 20 per cent tax on hot takeaway food sparked consumer fury and several campaigns from High Street stores. Greggs boss Ken McMeikan even marked on Downing Street with a petition signed by half a million customers, forcing Chancellor George Osborne into a U-turn over hot food left to cool. However, Greggs' decision to sell more hot food products subject to VAT has angered customers who backed its 'pastygate' campaign. One fan of the company's products said: 'After all the fuss it made over VAT on pasties and sausage rolls, now Greggs has decided to impose VAT on hot products. It leaves a nasty taste in the mouth among those customers who backed its opposition to the pasty tax. However, a company spokesman disputed this, saying Greggs already charges 20 per cent VAT on hot food such as toasted sandwiches, soup and hot drinks, and has not made any changes to pricing policy. Sainsbury's has admitted that sales of hot chicken had fallen since they added 20 per cent VAT to the price. Mike Coupe, commercial director, said: 'Many retailers are trying to find a way round the VAT rules.'