Remember when the British wrapped fish and chips in newspaper?
If you’re above a certain age and living in the UK, then you’ll probably remember when we would buy fish and chips in newspaper. Fish and chips has been a staple British meal for as long as anyone can remember, and there was something pretty special about carrying your food home from the chippy wrapped up tightly in a newspaper. I can just smell the salt and vinegar now!
Why were fish and chips wrapped in newspaper?
Fish and chip shops first appeared in the UK in the 1860s, and by 1910, there were 25,000 fish and chip shops across the country.
In 1928, Harry Ramsden opened his first fish and chip shop in West Yorkshire, and the tasty dish quickly became a staple amongst the working classes.
During the second world war, fish and chips was one of the very few types of food that wasn’t subject to any rationing, making it a popular choice for hungry families. Old newspaper was an easy choice to use for wrapping as it was readily available. It was also seen as a way to keep prices down so that fish and chips remained an affordable choice.
When did fish and chips stop being wrapped in newspaper?
In years gone by, we just didn’t have the same understanding of what could constitute a danger to our health. Kids used to knock back sugary drinks on the regular, and having your fish and chips wrapped in newspaper was pretty commonplace.
In the 1990s, we came to realise that having our food in direct contact with printed material probably wasn’t great for our health. And so, fish and chips wrapped up in newspaper started to become a thing of the past.
These days, you can still buy your fish and chips wrapped in fake newspaper but it’s never been quite the same.
You can get the look at home by buying greaseproof and food-safe newspaper wrapping for your fish and chips.
I’ve also seen this kind of paper used in up-market gastro pubs and I have to say that it does look pretty good.
Fish and chips will always be a staple of the British diet, and whether it’s wrapped up in newspaper or not, you can’t beat the taste of red hot fish and chips soaked in vinegar.
