According to the British Potato Council (BPC), which is preparing to celebrate National Chip Week (February 11-17, 2002), fish and chips is Britain’s favourite takeaway, and what’s more it is significantly lighter in fat and calories than its Indian and Chinese rivals and half the price.
Go deeper with GlobalData
In a new survey for the BPC, 41% named cod and chips as their favourite takeaway, while chicken tikka and pilau rice scored just 21%, and sweet and sour pork with egg fried rice polled only 15%. Government statistics show the average weekly consumption of ethnic foods is 31g per person, compared to 62g of chips per person each week.
The British Nutrition Foundation confirms that an average portion of fish and chips contains 20.6g of fat – that’s almost three times less fat than an Indian dish of chicken tikka masala and pilau rice, which is loaded with a staggering 59.9g fat. A Chinese takeaway of sweet and sour pork with egg-fried rice weighs in with 38.6g fat – nearly double the content of fish and chips.
Fish and chips win the calorie count too. On average a bag of fish and chips
contains 396.8kcal whereas chicken tikka masala has over double the calorie content (1064 kcal) and sweet and sour pork has 516 kcal…and remember that is before you have added the naan breads, poppadums and prawn toasts!
Not only is the fish and chip takeaway kinder to your figure than an Indian or
Chinese but also easier on your pocket. A takeaway portion of fish and chips costs an average of £3.00 (US$4.24). Chicken tikka masala and pilau rice sets you back about £7.00, while sweet and sour pork with egg fried rice averages £7.50. Both are more than double the cost of the fish and chip shop choice.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataThe recommended daily fat allowance is 95g for a man and 70g for a woman. Fish and chips have 20.6g fat, so a portion can easily be enjoyed as part of a healthy balanced diet. However chicken tikka masala and pilau rice (59.9g fat) will almost swallow your whole daily allowance in just one evening meal.
Kathryn Race, Marketing Manager of the British Potato Council says, ”When compared to the other takeaway meals, fish and chips are the all round winners and our findings will go a long way in dismissing the myth that chips are bad for you.”
| Cod and chips | Chicken tikka masala with pilau rice | Sweet and sour pork with egg fried rice | |
| Fat (Saturated fat) | 20.6g (1.8g) | 59.9g (14g) | 38.6g (6g) |
| Calories | 396.8 kcal | 1064 kcal | 516 kcal |
| Average price | £3.00 | £7.00 | £7.50 |
Source: British Potato Council
