European lawmakers may be about to skewer the doner kebab
– By Kim Hjelmgaard (usatoday.com) / Dec 1 2017
Turkey’s culinary version of an American hamburger may be about to get burnt, skewered, put through the mincer in Europe as lawmakers move to ban the phosphates used in the slabs of meat at the heart of the popular street food.
Citing health concerns, the European Union’s Parliament wants restrictions placed on the additive that is used to keep doner kebab meat juicy and flavorful.
It says that studies have linked the use of phosphates in the lamb, mutton, beef or veal that goes into the grilled sandwich widely available in European cities to heart disease.
The Parliament’s opposition to the use of phosphates follows a previous proposal by the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, to authorize use of the chemical.
A rejection by the Parliament when it meets in two weeks would send the proposal back to the Commission — and keep the late-night snack enjoyed by millions in limbo.
The popular dish usually comes comes stuffed into pita bread with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, onions and a range of dressings.
The threat to the doner kebab has been especially controversial in Germany, which has Western Europe’s largest population of Turkish immigrants — about 3 million according to the latest census data. It has left many kebab vendors up-in-arms.
“They are looking for ways to hurt Turkish businesses here,” Baris Donmez, the owner of a 24-hour kebab bistro in Berlin’s Mitte district.
“Such a ban would be the biggest pile of garbage imaginable.”
According to daily Frankfurter Rundschau there are about 16,000 doner restaurants in Germany and 3 million of the dishes are served daily.
Tens of thousands of people are employed in the multi-billion dollar industry that was introduced to Germany decades ago by Turkish immigrants.
Kenan Koyuncu, of the German Association of Doner Kebab Producers, told Germany’s Bild daily newspaper: “If the European Parliament gets its way, this would be the death sentence for the entire doner kebab industry in the European Union.”
PB/TK – Come on, so not fair, that’s like telling a 7-11 they need to lock up all the frozen burritos and microwaves after midnight to keep the stoners away
