Plans for a new chippy have come up against a health board's demands for fruit and veg on the menu. Betsi Cadwaladr health board wants the proposed takeaway in Morfa Bychan, Gwynedd, to sell a "good selection" of fruit and veg. It wants the menu to have less fat, salt and sugar and is worried an increase in fast food outlets is "detrimental" to people's health.But the question has to be asked what business is it of theirs anyway? Are they going to go through the complete menus and stock range of every single retail outlet to decide whether they meet with their approval?The more junk food was available, the board added, the more likely it was that people would get fat. "Increased access to unhealthy food retail outlets can be associated with increased weight status in the general population and increased obesity and unhealthy eating behaviours among children residing in low-income areas," it said. "While we appreciate this is only one extra takeaway unit, this would still be one additional takeaway than what is currently available."
It also isn’t made clear whether they want the chippy to also function as a greengrocer’s shop, something completely unheard of in takeaways, or whether they want more fruit and veg to be included on the menu, whether or not customers actually want them. But don’t expect them underwrite any losses incurred from stocking items people don’t want to buy.
It also seems distinctly hypocritical when many NHS facilities have vending machines full of crisps, chocolate bars and fizzy drinks, which presumably are items they disapprove of. Plus, in my experience, many NHS staff do not set a good example of keeping to an ideal weight.
This is yet another example of joyless, po-faced, Puritanical bureaucrats who have no conception of how businesses function trying to dictate how they should operate, and how ordinary people should live their lives, something that seems all too common nowadays.
And don’t mushy peas qualify as vegetables anyway?
There's too many chippies and pubs. We need more vegan cafes.
ReplyDeleteVeganism is one definition of insanity.
DeleteMeat is plant-based and has been for decades. Thank the Army for that.
DeleteThey are picking the wrong fight, however they are the national 'health' service, and surely promoting a healthy lifestyle is part of their remit, otherwise we end up in the situation where all of their efforts are on fixing people's poor lifestyle choices.
ReplyDeleteAt what point are there too many takeaways?
Everyone should have their own choice , but in a area saturated with takeaways, it's easy to see why people visit these more often than is probably healthy.
Are people more upset because they think it illiberal of the health board, because of a perception that it's none of their business.
There actually was a poor soul who wanted to set up a business in Starmer's socialist Britain. That person knows better now.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a while since I could afford fish and chips from the chippy. Some breaded cod fillets from Tescos and home made chips done in my deep fat fryer - about a fiver for the two of us.
ReplyDeleteThat is due to the fact that Russia used to supply a lot of the white fish in the UK.
DeleteWhile they're at it they could get Tim to put tomatoes and mushrooms back into his breakfasts.
ReplyDeletePeople don't want fish and chips. People want broccoli.
ReplyDeleteThat's democracy.
As well as mushy peas being vegetables chips are made from potatoes which are also vegetables. So chippys are selling their fair share of vegetables already. Whoever that Betsi Cadwaladr woman is she wants to mind her own business.
ReplyDeleteEdward Peterson
I might be a bit of an outlier on this but I can't stand takeaway fish and chips. Soggy chips, greasy batter, Vietnamese river cobbler masquerading as cod and bland mushy peas, Now if you're offering me a nice Thai fish cake and Aldi Maris Pipers oven chips done in the air fryer with some sweet chilli sauce that's a different kettle of, well, fish altogether.
ReplyDeleteThe kebab is the king of takeaways with Singapore Noodles and crispy shredded beef as a close second.
And here's the thing - you can still get these when the pubs close unlike my local chippy which closes an hour before chucking out time because they don't want the bother. That's the whole point you lazy fuckers.
I suspect that the fish and chips shops you've experienced are just rubbish. The description is the polar opposite to those near me.
DeleteAnd me. I adore Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Haddock and chips with plenty of mushy peas. Delicious.
DeleteNah, chippies are on their last legs. Poor quality. Too expensive. Colonial food is where it's at now. Mind you I even find Chinese grub poor value for money these days. www.statista.com/statistics/1282840/top-takeaway-food-uk/
DeleteNah. Stick your colonial food prof.
DeleteForeign muck.
DeleteWaycist
DeleteAverage council elections get a 30% turnout. from a low of 20 to 40% being a good turnout.
ReplyDeleteWhat is needed is an inspiring leader, promising us unlimited chips and best bitter ! Are you that leader, Mudgy?
Can you fix these rotten boroughs? Can you fix this declining nation?
I'd vote for unlimited chips and best bitter, if I could be bothered.
Not a problem. More fruit like bananas and pineapple... battered and deep fried. They already do loads of veg, unless these interfering busybodies don't think potatoes are vegetables.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I dislike him in relation to land (I see him as a would be big house landlord from my Irish perspective). George Monibot pointed out a few years ago in relation to that picture of Brighton beach in the summer of 1976 and how much thinner people were, pointed out that consumption of beer was higher, consumption of fish and chips was higher, that physical movement was the similar to what it is today in Britain and calorie intake is roughly the same. What has changed is portion sizes which have got bigger and increased consumption of added sugar I.E consumption of ice cream has increased as a portion of dairy consumption on average, and not little cones or tubs but boxed ice cream like Ben and Jerrys.
ReplyDeleteOscar
I think selling fruit and veg at a chip shop sounds like an excellent idea for encouraging a healthy lifestyle. More councils should go down this track. We have great reformers like Wes Streeting and Prof. Chris Whitty in our corner now and we all need to play a part and think about preventative health.
ReplyDeleteHere in Bristol our local fish and chip shop is doing its bit for Black History Month. They are selling Jamaican fish patties, and they taste wonderful. I am surprised that no breweries are doing anything for Black History Month. I think a wonderful dark stout would be a great thing to celebrate this most important of months.
I agree Miles.
DeleteHere in the People's Republic of Hackney our local chippie does its bit for Gay Pride Week by removing saveloys from the menu in support of the trans community.
Such delicious sarcasm !
DeleteI rarely pull an all-nighter these days. There's no real need when I'm usually up for half of it prostate peeing. I was going to for the US elections but decided instead to be there at their time to witness it.
ReplyDeleteWednesday is different. Hurricane Milton is an apocalyptic monster which I've a feeling might influence the result of the Trump-Harris slog-fest if federal disaster managers FEMA handle it as badly as Helene two weeks ago. They're still looking for bodies.
I've added interest in this one. Five years ago we sold our house on the shores of Tampa Bay precisely because of the increasing threat of a big one ( Charley swerved us by about 50 miles ). The front door is six feet above sea level. Milton is bringing a 10-15 foot storm surge with current projections showing its landfall slap bang in centre of that door. My old neighbours have fled with whatever they can take with them.
Anyhow, what to drink through the wee small hours.
Dark and Stormies seems appropriate and I love dark rum,lime and ginger beer.
But what about a beer choice ?
Any suggestions ?
Please show photographs of these NHS people.
ReplyDeleteEver been to a hospital? (stupid question, I know) . The staff, each carrying a piece of paper, to prove their usefulness, wandering the wards and corridors are mostly obese.
And that is just the ones you see. Not the MANAGEMENT.
Fish suppers. Fresh haddock. Freshly cut chips. Decent batter. Really hot dripping. No messed-about-with rape oil. Cooked as you wait, quickly, from cold. Extra veg? Have an onion. Fruit? Have a gherkin.
When they get it right......mmmm.
Give people a choice. If chippies put quinoa salad on the menu we'd soon see that decent people want healthy food. Only the far right want chips.
ReplyDelete