Posted on 12/13/2017 11:20:34 AM PST by nickcarraway
The future of the kebab is to be decided in a key Europe-wide vote that could spark the end of the late-night delicacy.
A move by the European parliament to ban the phosphates necessary to keep seasoned kebab meat moist and flavoursome is said to pose a direct threat to the future of the nightclubber’s favourite greasy snack.
An estimated 1.3m doner kebabs are sold every day in the UK from more than 20,000 outlets.
Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, was even guest of honour last year at the British kebab awards. Across the whole of Europe, some 200,000 people work in the industry.
The issue was debated by MEPs in the European Parliament in Strasbourg yesterday and will cast a final vote today.
If accepted, the favourite fast food could be under threat – leaving lovers of the meaty snack up in arms. In Germany, where the doner kebab is said to be the most popular fast food, the vote has caused particular concern.
Kenan Koyuncu of the German association of doner kebab producers, said: ‘If the European parliament gets its way, this would be the death sentence for the entire doner kebab industry in the European Union.’
The parliament’s health committee has already voted to reject the use of phosphates, claiming there is evidence to link the consumption of the preservative with heart disease.
Generally, they are not allowed under EU law, but exceptions are permitted on strict grounds.
But the European Commission said the use of phosphates in frozen kebab meat is necessary to protect the binding in the meat during roasting and thawing.
It has proposed changing the existing rules, to allow phosphates to be used in kebabs. But if MEPs vote to accept the recommendation from the health committee by an absolute majority (367 votes), the commission’s plan will be skewered.
A scientific review in 2012 suggested a possible link between phosphates, when used as food additives, and heart disease, but the evidence remains inconclusive.
They are utterly disgusting. Looks like food poisoning on a twirling rod. I went to the chippy after the pub. Nothing better!
Those damn phosphates are a threat to national security!
Maybe they could get some advice from Michelle Obama about phosphate free alternatives to kabobs
What are you talking about?
Best fast food available in Europe.
Little mouse ears and tail are a turn off to me when eating.
It’s what we call a gyro.
France has late night kebob shops as well.
Idiot Europeans.
Why are we defending communist Europe?
It is like the existing requirement that bananas must have a precise curve. More or less gets the banana banned.
“Remove kebab”
Phosphates is way down the list of the EU’s problems.
So you can’t spray phosphates on your house, but yer more than welcome to eat them.
IWhat I was questioning was your reference to donner kebab as “food poisoning on a twirling stick.” I would like not to call you an ignorant slob, but I can be persuaded.
Chippy. noun. A woman presumed to be of easy virtue; woman who frequents bars, ...
More entertaining than meat on a stick for sure. Although it kind of is meat on a stick.
Up yours.
British slang for a fish and chip shop.
Hey...when you have bureaucrats involved, there is no small level of detail in problems that cannot be addressed by more laws and legislation!
Remove kebab.
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