Kebabs could be banned under EU plans to combat heart disease

European parliament to ban phosphates necessary to keep kebab meat moist, flavoursome

Kebabs are a beloved late-night snack for the many in the United Kingdom (UK), especially for the young who flock home at the end of a long night out.

The future of the mouth-watering street delicacy is now in the balance, however, after it emerged that the European Union (EU) plans to ban kebabs in Britain as part of its plan to combat heart disease in the region, The Telegraph reports.

A ban on kebab meat is on the cards as the EU parliament moves to ban the phosphates necessary to keep seasoned kebab meat moist and flavoursome.

Some 200,00 people across Europe work in the kebab meat industry, and 1.3 million doner kebabs are sold every day in the UK from more than 20,00 outlets across the country.



Ibrahim Dogus, chair of the British Takeaway Campaign, an umbrella organisation that represents fast food groups including the Kebab Association, said: “An EU ban on the doner would damage the takeaway industry - a sector which generates £4.5bn in economic growth to the UK and supports 231,000 jobs".

“Doner kebabs are a much loved staple in takeaways up and down the country and have been enjoyed since the 8th century BC.”

He told a local reporter: “In many cases, such as in my own restaurants, kebabs are homemade and when served with a fresh salad and pitta bread offer consumers a healthy choice.

“Restaurants are already responding to consumer demand by providing healthier options and adapting menus – from choosing lower fat oils to sourcing local produce..”



Although the evidence remains inconclusive, the verdict on phosphates is based on a scientific review from back in 2012 which suggested a possible link between phosphates being used as food additives and heart disease.

Under EU laws, the use of phosphates in meat preparation to protect flavour and retain water is banned. There are exceptions to the rule though, and currently there are no provisions in the law about using the formula in frozen kebab meat.

The European parliament’s health committee this week voted down a proposal from the European commission that would have allowed the use of phosphoric acid, phosphates and polyphosphates in kebab meat made of mutton, lamb, veal, beef or poultry.

The full European parliament is due to vote on the issue when it sits in Strasbourg in two weeks time.

This article originally appeared in The Telegraph