FAST - FOOD

'Fast food' to some eateries means 'same day'. Walk into ANY chip shop at ANYTIME and whatever you ask for will never be ready. For example, if you ask for chips the response will be, "We're just waiting for chips", likewise ask for fish and you're greeted with, "Fish will be a few minutes". If you want three fishcakes then only two will be available. If more than two people in front of you in the queue want chips it will be 'waiting for chips' again when it's your turn.

The best bet is to look and see what's in the cabinet and order that - though it may have been there all day and need warming up before you even leave the shop. A Chinese take-away, on the other hand, is very different. You could order one of everything on the menu and it's translated through to the kitchen in two syllables - and ready in four minutes. Even after an hours drive home it's still piping hot. The chips are usually superior too.

An advert for Kentucky Fried Chicken was banned for making its meals look bigger and better than the real thing. Watchdogs ruled that the fast food chain had misled the public over the size and appearance of its Bargain Buckets. The advert showed a family of four tucking into the £7.99 meal with at least three pieces of chicken left after they had each eaten one. But one customer complained that his meal contained only six pieces - and did not even come in a bucket. ITC staff visited the chain and concluded that the advert had given a "misleading impression" of the product. They ruled that KFC cannot show it again in its current form.

The chain said its Bargain Buckets were only supposed to contain six pieces of chicken. But the Independent Television Commission ruled the advert suggested otherwise. "The ITC noted that the commercial had shown a family of four each taking a piece of chicken from a bucket after which there clearly remained more than two pieces of chicken," its report said. "The ITC considered that these visuals gave a very clear impression that the bucket contained more than six pieces of chicken and was therefore capable of giving a misleading impression of the product."

The ITC concluded the advert had given a false impression of KFC's packaging. A spokesperson for KFC said, "The Bargain Bucket advertisement referred to by the ITC is no longer on air. We have acknowledged the ITC observations and have already ensured that these are reflected both in the existing advertising campaign and in all future activity."

Doner kebabs, the late-night favourite of drinkers, are supposed to be made from reformed mutton. But two of the four doner kebabs tested by Derbyshire County Council's trading standards officers were found to contain more than the sheep meat they were supposed to. Trading standards officers took 10 samples of food from takeaways and their tests revealed of four doner kebabs, one contained beef and another included beef and poultry.

UK consumers are buying processed meats regularly pumped-up with up to 30% water, the Food Commission has said. The organisation is calling for clearer labelling of products, showing the specific quantity of added water, not currently a legal requirement. A survey in its Food Magazine found added water in bacon, ham, chicken, lamb, turkey, sausages and hot dogs. The Food and Drink Federation said adding water was legal and could be "an essential part" of production.

But the Food Commission said food or drink was often sold by weight or volume and said that allowed "unscrupulous" manufacturers to "bulk out products with water and other cheap ingredients, before selling the produce on at full price". Companies can legally add up to 5% water to any food without declaring it as an ingredient. If they add more than that, or over 10% for bacon or gammon, it must be stated on the label.

But Food Commission spokesman Ian Tokelove said the specific proportion of added water did not have to be stated. The water is added by soaking, tumbling or injection, and can be held in place by phosphate additives or ingredients like starch or gelatine. Mr Tokelove said many shoppers were unaware that processed meats could contain between 10 and 30% added water. He called for clearer labelling "with a declaration on the front of the packet showing the percentage of added water."

Which? magazine has claimed that some of the most popular brands of ham are "pumped" with a cocktail of water and additives. It said the worst offender was Ye Olde Oak ham, which contained more than a third added water and only 55% meat. Among wafer-thin hams, Bernard Matthews performed the worst, with its version containing more than a quarter of added water. Marks & Spencer's Danish wafer ham contained 18%, Sainsbury's basics cooked ham comprised 25%, Tesco's value cooked ham had 21% and Asda's Smart Price thin ham 16%.

By law, producers have to declare the percentage of pork in packaged ham and label water as an ingredient if it constitutes more than 5% of a cold meat product, however, they are not obliged to say how much water has been added, a loophole which the consumer watchdog wants abolished. All but one producer admitted on the front of its package that it had added water. The Which? report said, "There is certainly a potential for profit when selling water and additives instead of more expensive meat."

A spokesman for Bernard Matthews said, "It is normal industry practice to add a small amount of water to ensure the best possible texture and flavour." A spokesman for Marks & Spencer, said, "We pride ourselves on the high quality of its hams. Two thirds do not contain added water." A spokesman for Tesco said, "We do add some water to our products to retain succulence, based on taste tests with consumers." (Source: Daily Telegraph)

Tinned food is on the way out after nearly 200 years. Old-style cans are being axed by Sainsbury's, who will be putting their own-brand products in rectangular cartons. The supermarket says they are two-thirds lighter than cans and take up less space. They are also more environmentally-friendly as they are made of wood fibre and easier to transport and carry home. Sainsbury's say the cartons will revolutionise the way food is packaged. A spokeswoman said the carton can also be recycled by 70% of UK local councils.

She said, "It's a world first and could herald the end of the tin can. It ticks a lot of boxes as it's environmentally efficient to transport, it's recyclable, it uses 33% less space and it's easier to carry home than a can." Heinz baked beans are being sold in microwaveable pots for the first time, while Ambrosia have been selling custard and rice pudding in cartons as well as cans for some time. Tinned food producers admit the £1.7billion-a-year industry is struggling to shake off its old-fashioned image. But Steve Thomas, spokesman for industry body Canned Food UK, said it was adapting to changes in consumer lifestyle and taste. (Source: Sunday Mirror, Dec/07)