‘Freebie ban is just crackers’ Businessman speaks out
Pete Chan, owner of China China takeaway says it’s not freebies which cause obesity Perth and Kinross residents and a popular takeaway owner have said any attempt to ban free prawn cracker and poppadoms with meals should be resisted.
Takeaway giveaways are in the firing line as part of an anti-obesity drive by the Scottish Government.
A consultation document includes proposals to stop restaurants and takeaways offering “purchase rewards”.
The government has denied prawn crackers and poppadoms will be affected, but many feel it is only a matter of time before they are targeted.
Pete Chan, owner of China China takeaway based in Craigie, said: “There’s a comment that sums it up perfectly ‘What we offer is not what causes obesity - it’s greed, greed causes obesity’.
“For as long as patrons have been dining in Chinese restaurants, a bowl of prawn crackers have been put on the table the moment they sat down.
“The Chinese prawn cracker is deep fried. There’s no getting around that fact and it is regarded as ‘unhealthy’.”
“However, are they not an institution in their own right?”
Despite disagreeing with the proposal, Chan feels that healthy eating options are necessary to meet people’s needs.
“My Chinese kitchen nowadays, is quite forward thinking,” Chan said.
“For example, we have moved with the times with oil and MSG- free cooking, using less salt, using light soya sauce instead of the traditional dark recipe.
“We’ve had to change, offering healthy options because of peoples choices as folks become more health conscious about their diets.”
China China also conducted a survey of the proposal on their Facebook page and received over 40 responses, with most people very critical.
One Facebook comment said: “It’s absolutely shocking. And seriously how is this going to curb the obesity problem?”
One person compared the free foods to one of Scotland’s national dishes saying: “Now then let’s clarify that it is the Scottish Government seeming to do this appalling thing.
“I would love to read the data on prawn crackers and poppadoms and compare these to the positive health benefits of Haggis.
“Now, I enjoy Haggis but I’ll bet the former foods are positively healthy in comparison.”
Despite the outcry a spokesperson for the Everest Inn in Perth thinks that the proposal could be a good move, saying: “In my opinion this is the right thing to do if there is proper monitoring from the government.
“Like 5p charges for plastic bags, but only if it is fully implemented in all businesses or restaurants.”
How is this going to curb the obesity problem?