Fish and Chips is one of the most beloved British dishes that has become a symbol of the fast food of the United Kingdom. However, many remember the times when fish with potatoes were served wrapped in a newspaper. Why did the newspaper become an important part of this delicacy? This question has been curious about many, and Sankey's Seafood restaurant in Tanbridge-Vells, Kent, decided to reveal the secret of this tradition in a viral video on Tiktok.
As the employee of the restaurant Matthew explained, the history of the newspaper as a pack for Fish and Chips began during the Second World War, when there was a lack of paper in the country. At the time, many fish and potato merchants, without specialized packaging, began to use old newspapers to wrap ready -made food. This has become a popular method because of the lack of resources and the need to quickly and cheaply pack buyers. However, over time, it became apparent that the use of newspapers to pack food can be dangerous to health. The ink used in newspapers contained harmful substances, including gasoline and lead, which could lead to lead poisoning when in contact with products. As a result, the European Union has a ban on the use of old newspapers for food packaging. Now most of the restaurants serving Fish and Chips no longer use real newspapers for packaging, instead have replaced them with certified materials safe for food. However, in order to preserve tradition, some establishments even began to print false newspapers with appropriate articles that add historical color to dishes. Despite the changes, many visitors to restaurants remember how tasty were Fish and Chips when served in a newspaper. In the comments to the video on Tiktok, the audience shared memories, pointing out that the packaging of food in the newspaper seemed to help keep the warmth and the food itself delicious. People remember that the food has not touched the newspaper before, and now some fish dishes with chips have lost their former quality.
Although the newspaper as packaging for Fish and Chips has gone to the past because of health fears, the tradition and nostalgia in the old times remain alive. From now on, food is served on counterfeit newspapers, which allows you to preserve this British folklore, but to ensure safety for consumers' health.
