Another Food Law That Gets My Goat

[hc4361]

Having ranted about the widespread sale of Halal meat on another thread, I cannot understand why restaurants, pubs and take aways are no longer legally required to specify the type of fish that is hidden in batter when advertised as 'fish and chips' or 'traditional fish and chips'.

If you ask the staff they won't know. Some people are allergic to Panga (also known as Vietnamese River Cobbler and other names), I'm not but I don't like it yet it is being commonly substituted for cod or haddock.

Panga is dirt cheap and they are charging cod prices for it. Google it and you'll find plenty of reasons not to eat it.

It is illegal to sell meat pies, meat sandwiches etc without specifying the type of meat.

Do you care what's inside your batter when you eat fish and chips?

[B00]

No

[boxtops]

Yes, I'd like to know, because some fish tastes better than others, and is more widely available with approved fishing methods. Our supermarket is selling some fish beginning with B that I've never heard of.

[wolf63]

I am not sure what they have in fish suppers locally but I did notice that the moggies had a choice of 'Felix with Colin' or 'Felix with Pollock'. They licked the jelly off and left the meat/fish.

[hc4361]

Panga is not a flaky fish like cod or haddock - it is a soggy mush that tastes of nothing much.

[emmie]

i don;t eat fish and chips now, much too expensive and much too greasy.

[pixie373]

I've never actually seen "fish and chips" for sale, that doesn't specify the fish. I'm surprised it's allowed.

[ichkeria]

What concerns me more is the tasteless mush that passes for fish in British restaurants. You'd be hard-pressed to tell what any of it is.

[emmie]

fish shops will usually list those cod, haddock, plaice, or huss.

[flump1]

I care loads as cod is the only fish I eat , then reluctantly. I have been fish phobic all my life, can't remember ever having a bad experience eating it, just don't like it. Only cod...then I eat the batter first and pick at the fish!

[ichkeria]

... but when in doubt I look at the menu. Not sure I've ever seen just 'fish' on a menu anywhere. Maybe it's a very new thing

[Mamyalynne]

Our local Chip Shops are family run and they do know what is in their battered fish and will happily tell you - often you have a choice.

[emmie]

should always be labelled what the fish is, though i am pretty sure some has been passed off as the more expensive variety, if it's white fish, i don;t like cod, it has no taste.

[ummmm]

Panga is also known as basa.

I did read up on it a little bit and thought there was a bit of a conspiracy.

"In 2002, the United States accused Vietnam of dumping catfish, namely Pangasius bocourti and Pangasius hypophthalmus, on the American market, charging the Vietnamese importers, who are subsidized by Vietnam's government, of unfair competition.[6][7] With pressures from the U.S. catfish industry, the United States Congress passed a law in 2003 preventing the imported fish from being labelled as catfish, as well as imposing additional tariffs on the imported fish.[8] Under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ruling, only species from the family Ictaluridae can be sold as true catfish.[9] As a result, the Vietnamese exporters of this fish now label their products sold in the U.S. as basa fish or bocourti.[10][11]

At the height of the "catfish war", U.S. catfish farmers and others were describing the imported catfish as an inferior product. However, Mississippi State University researchers found imported basa were preferred in a taste test 3-to-1.[12]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basa_fish

[shaneystar2]

I can certainly tell the difference between cod and any mush they care to serve .
If it states cod it must be cod otherwise if you're not happy then you can go to Trading Standards and report your concerns .I only ever eat fish and chips from the local and very reputable fish and chip shop and restaurants round here anyway and it always say ..cod ,haddock etc ...not just "fish and chips ".Plus ,I live on the coast where we are used to fresh fish .You could never pull the wool over my eyes :)

[jackthehat]

We eat loads of Basa fish and have never found it to be as you have described, hc.

[hc4361]

Pixie, the Harvester menu states 'fish and chips' with no mention of the type of fish, as does the Hungry Horse chain, Wacky Warehouse pubs sell 'hand battered fillets of white fish', Beefeater serves 'a delicious fillet of white fish, grilled....', Brewers' Fayre lists 'Hand Battered Fish and Chips' and 'Chip Shop Sharing Platter' with no mention of the type of fish.

Traditional chip shops have been prosecuted for serving panga whilst calling it cod.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1268287/Chip-shop-boss-fined-2-000-selling-Vietnamese-catfish-cod.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-1199190/Catfish-chips-anyone.html

[ichkeria]

Of course just because it says 'cod' etc
Maybe it's just a cod!! I only like plaice as it's the only fish that seems to taste of anything remotely fishy after it's been filleted and dipped in fat for a few minutes :-)

[emmie]

for me it would have to be rock salmon, white fleshy fish with loads of flavour. but that is a rare event these days to eat it.

[DaisyNonna]

Would never choose anything described as white fish without enquiring further.

[emmie]

dollop some sauce over the top and some people wouldnt know what it was, suggest harvester food is dire...