“Fish and chips”: because of the war in Ukraine, the British could be left without their favorite dish

Fish and chips is the British equivalent of Argentine steak and chips. in every neighborhood “the chippy” with fries wrapped in a cone, it is the most traditional and historic British menu and crosses all types of society. But the war in Ukraine put him off in absolute crisis when it is tradition of the kingdom.

No Russian white fish, such as cod in the North Sea, due to sanctions against Russia, or Ukrainian sunflower oil, the russian blockade Black sea.

Its two main ingredients are scarce and endangered in its existence. Just as widespread famine threatens North Africa, Lebanon, Jordan, Mali and Sudan, lack of fish and oil because of the war, it threatened a British culinary institution. 35 percent of white fish come from Russia. Cod and haddock also come from there.

A third of Britain’s fish and chip Chippys could close if ministers they do not address cod deficiencyhaddock, sunflower oil, potato flour and manure, “exacerbated by the war in Ukraine”, the industry warns.

The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) that the ongoing conflict has exacerbated global shortages of key components.

“Some areas have been forced to raise prices, change their menus and, in some cases, close,” the federation said.

Half of the sunflower oil used by British fish and chip shops is from Ukraine. Alternatives such as palm and rapeseed oil the price went up due to demand, according to the NFFF.

More expensive

The group said British sanctions on Russia’s whitefish would make supplies fewer and more expensive. Up to 40 percent of cod and haddock come from the country’s prey in the North Sea.

Fertilizers for potatoes, which mainly come from Russia, They tripled in price.

James Lipscombe, owner of 40 fish and chip shops across the country, explained to the British press: “I have never seen anything like it. I see a portion of the closures of Chippys fish and chips across the UK. Week by week seen ko yan the shops were closed and the situation was really deplorable”.

Andrew Crook, chairman of the NFFF, called on ministers to take immediate action. “We need action before this happens long -term damagethat can’t be fixed, ”he said.

“We are not looking for handouts. We are a proud industry. But many companies will fail and we need a long -term strategy to move forward, ”he explained.

A British government spokesman said it would “continue to talk to the industry body, the National Fish Fry Federation and other industry representatives about the current pressures they face.”

Paris, correspondent

ap