Fish and chips fears

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33279, 17 July 1973, Page 15

Fish and chips fears

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright > LONDON, July 16 The Englishman’s traditional bag of fish and chips would never be the same again if Common Market bureaucrats get their way, an M.P. said yesterday, the Press Association reported. They are intent, complained Dr John Gilbert, Labour Member for Dudley, on destroying one of the great pleasures of English life. He is to press Mr Joseph Godber, Minister of Food to reject the proposed Common Market ban on the type of I vinegar that gives fish and chips "its peculiar tasty smack.” Dr Gilbert, an ardent fish-and-chip man himself, is to raise the issue with the Minister in the Commons next week.

“The type of Common Market vinegar that will be foisted on us if we are not careful will ruin the taste of fish and chips,” he said. “We use synthetic vinegar here and I don’t know why they want to ban it. They are hell-bent on their mania for pointless standardisation and for making everything we eat and drink taste the same.

“They’re mucking about with the milk — and that will change the taste of a cup of tea. They are mucking about with the hops — and I bet that won’t improve a pint of beer.”

Dr Gilbert, who is supporting the Confederation of Fried Fish Caterers on this issue, added: “If they started mucking about with the fish and chips — well there is a limit to what British people will stand.”