The EU Could Take Away Our Kebabs And We May Never Get Over It
One of the most popular snacks after a night out all over Europe is the cheeky doner kebab. Back in Malta, the post-midnight meal has become somewhat of a modern tradition, and many people can’t bear to imagine what life would be like without it. Well, it seems like they might soon have to learn the hard way.
The whole issue actually came about when the European Union’s executive Commission proposed to officially ban the use of phosphates in lamb, mutton, beef or veal that goes onto a shop spit. Other meats had previously received similar clearance, and it is this key ingredient that actually adds to the kebab’s unique taste. The proposal hit a bit of a snag this week, however, when it reached the European Parliament’s Health Committee.
The Committee voted 32-22 to oppose the official authorisation of phosphates, expressing concerns that “carving out blanket approval for kebab meat could put Europeans at greater risk of heart disease.”
If the proposal is fully rejected by Parliament the next time it meets in two weeks’ time, the whole thing goes back to the Commission… and with it, the kebab’s not-so-secret ingredient.
Kebab takeaway owners all over Europe, particularly in Germany, are hitting back at the recent updates. Some have even quoted “doner discrimination” as the real culprit behind this move, saying that, after all, some sausages that contain phosphates would still be allowed (well at least they’re not also taking our sausages).
In an interview with The Daily Mail, Berlin kebab bistro owner Baris Donmez said “they are looking for ways to hurt Turkish businesses here.”
Kenan Koyuncu, of the German Association of Doner Kebab Producers (yes, that’s an actual job), had a similarly grim prediction. “If the European Parliament gets its way, this would be the death sentence for the entire doner kebab industry in the European Union.”
Renate Sommer, a member of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative party in the European Parliament, wrote on Facebook that “a ban of the phosphate addition would be the end of doner production and would lead to the loss of thousands of jobs.”
And yes, that includes Malta.
It seems like we’ve got two weeks until the fateful final decision is made.
Until then, we’d recommend you use this time – particularly this weekend – to enjoy our favourite local kebab haunt. After all, you don’t know what you’ve gone until it’s gone.
Tag a kebab fan and apologise for ruining their day.
READ NEXT: YOU VOTED: Malta’s Favourite Doner Kebab Restaurants
