Moving Mountains plant-based fillets (sold everywhere!)
Cod is one of England’s most popular fish types to eat. But did you know that cod is actually endangered? Whereas ‘fish and chips’ is one of England’s most popular institutions (Winston Churchill did not even ration the dish during the War), today those in both the fishing and chip shop industry are concerned, due to the huge amounts of cod eaten across England.
Most cod alternatives are based on seaweed, avoid for iodine/thyroid issues. Keep plant-based fish away from pets, as it may contain toxic ingredients like onion, garlic, mushrooms, jackfruit etc.
Other issues are sea pollution causing problems with chemicals in fish, and by-catch (where other creatures including birds, sea turtles, dolphins, seals and whales get caught up in fishing nets).
Atlantic cod has now been fished ‘almost to extinction’, whereas some other versions are still vulnerable, but not quite as perilous. If you do eat cod, then eat it sparingly and from brands that guarantee sustainable sources with no by-catch. Now the Atlantic stocks are dwindling, most of England’s cod stocks come from Norway and Iceland, with over half of cod farming jobs being in Scotland. Farmed fish is not the answer (cruel, and escaped cod then cause disease and parasites in wild fish). Try this vegan fish finger sandwich (Lazy Cat Kitchen).
Having said that, we don’t want to replace chip shops with takeaways offering filet-o-fish with plastic cutlery and sauce sachets. If you run a chip shop, offer rapeseed-oil chips (to avoid palm oil), biodegradable packaging (or reusable containers that people can bring back for a refund) and plant-based alternatives like (see below!) And of course pickled onions!
Beer-Battered ‘tofish and chips’!
If you’re a diehard fish-and-chip fan, this is not just about fish welfare. Often the lonely old man enjoys his ‘Friday supper’ meal for an affordable price at his local chippy. But unless steps are taken to eat less cod stocks overall, cod will go extinct, or be too expensive for the average person to buy anyway.
Some chip shops now offer ‘banana blossom’ fish fillets, but these appear to be very expensive and exotic, you may be better offering customers Moving Mountains Flaky Fish Fillets (ideal with chips and mushy peas, they also sell fishless fingers).
Bird’s Eye also makes good plant-based fish fillets, fishless fingers (from the company that practically invented fish finger) and vegetable fingers (below). All are free from palm oil (recycle packaging at supermarket bag bins).
