REALITY NIGHTMARE
Tesco’s basic fish fingers have MORE cod than Birds Eye and Young’s – and they’re half the price
YOU may be shocked to find that Tesco's value fish fingers contain MORE fish than those made by big name brands like Birds Eye and Young's - and they cost HALF the price.
We're not codding around! The Sun Online have dived into see how much fish is really in supermarket fish fingers and the results are TRULY surprising.
6
For people who don't know, fish fingers are made from whitefish, usually cod or pollock, and are coated in batter or breadcrumbs for added delicious crunch.
Food manufacturers are required to follow regulations set out by the Department of Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), but when it comes to the amount of fish in the breaded fish sticks, there is no minimum amount.
This is different to beef burgers that have to contain at least 62 per cent meat, and sausage rolls which have to have at least 42 per cent.
The only requirement is that the percentage of fish in the overall product has to be displayed on the packaging.
We looked at fish fingers sold in big supermarkets as well as Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose and Iceland.
One of the most startling revelations was that Tesco's Everyday Value Fish Fingers contain 64 per cent cod - which is 6 per cent more fish than what's in much-loved brands such as Birdseye and Young's.
6
And what's more, the fish sticks from Tesco cost a fraction of the price of the other two products. At 75p for 250g - that's £3 per kilogram.
We looked for the cheapest price for each brand, taking in to account offers that are currently running, and worked out the price per kilogram.
The cheapest price for a pack of ten Birds Eye cod fish fingers is currently £2 in Tesco, meaning you'll pay £7.15 per kilogram.
While a 16 pack of Young's cod fish fingers will set you back £2 in Tesco and Waitrose, but works out as £5 per kilo and almost double the price of the fish sticks from Tesco.
Of course Young's do offer a premium line of fish fingers, the Young's Gastro 8 Panko Breaded Chunky Cod Fish Fingers, which contains two per cent more fish than their value range at 60 per cent - but it's still lower than some budget rivals have.
6
At the top of the table is Asda's and Sainsbury's breaded cod fish fingers with 70 per cent fish - the highest of any supermarket.
Unlike most of the fish fingers available to buy in supermarkets, the ones from Asda are fresh not frozen and cost £2.20 for 360g.
The breaded fish fingers from Sainsbury's with the highest fish content will set you back £3 for 480g.
While Birds Eye 6 Cod Fish Fingers with Sea Salt & Cracked Black Pepper 360g were found to have the least amount of fish in them, with just over half of the fish stick to be made up from cod.
6
6
6
But what else is in our beloved fish fingers if it's not fish?
Some of the filling ingredients are potato starch, wheat flour, while others add paprika to create the distinctive orange breadcrumb colour as well as the flavour.
Seafood specialists Young's boast a turnover of £600 million, whilst Birds Eye are often credited as the creators of the fish finger since 1955.
MEATY TRUTH Why your sausage roll may only contain 42% meat – and the retailers who WON’T say how much is in theirs
A spokesperson from Birds Eye said: "As the inventors of the fish finger and with over 60 years’ experience serving them to the nation, Birds Eye has continually developed and perfected its recipe based on years of extensive consumer feedback, which tells us that our fish fingers have the perfect balance of fish and breadcrumbs.
"This much loved product is enjoyed by 37 per cent of all UK households every year, and we are proud to be a mealtime favourite of the nation. Our fish fingers are MSC sustainably sourced, made with the best quality ingredients and never use artificial colours, flavours or preservatives."
A spokesperson for Young's said: "We’re proud to make the only branded fish fingers made in Britain – lovingly coated, cooked and frozen by our team in Grimsby.
"Our fish fingers are made with great quality, responsibly-sourced cod. Our recipe is based on feedback we’ve had from consumers, who love the taste and quality of the fish we provide.
One Pound Fish man goes for Xmas No1
"With a 200-year heritage, we’ve been providing this great British favourite to the nation for many years."
A spokesperson from Asda said that none of their fish fingers contain anything other than fish and breadcrumbs, while Waitrose say that their's are "100% hook and line caught".
Sainsbury's say that they're "committed to providing our customers with great quality, value and choice".
Frozen food specialists Iceland take pride that their fish fingers contain more fish than Birds Eye's.
The Sun Online has approached all of the supermarkets featured in our investigation for a comment.
How to save when food shopping - what the supermarkets don't tell you
Most read in money
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at money@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 78 24516
Topics
