Frozen fish deserves the same reputation as frozen peas

Frozen fish deserves the same reputation for quality and nutrition as frozen peas, according to repeated taste test by FASFA (Frozen at Sea Fillet Association).

Regularly, FASFA conducts blind taste tests judged by catering and fast food peers and every year frozen at sea fillets comes out on top.

Tim Cartwright-Taylor, chairman of FASFA, said: "It's generally accepted that you cannot get much better than frozen peas when it comes to taste and quality but frozen fish struggles to gain the same kudos as its 'fresh' counterpart.

"Regularly, we test a random audience of industry professionals and every year frozen fish gets the thumbs up for taste and quality. When the fish is caught it is cleaned, filleted and frozen on the trawlers within four hours, which 'locks-in' the freshness to guarantee a beautiful taste when it reaches the plate."

Visitors to the FASFA stand at the Fast Food Fair were invited to blind taste a sample of frozen at sea cod supplied by Seagold and compare it with a sample of 'fresh' fish, which had been supplied by a respected merchant the previous day.

All the fish was cooked in a microwave for the same period of time with no seasoning and no labels or accompanying information.

Visitors marked a voting card to highlight their preference; 15 favoured the frozen at sea product and only one the 'fresh' product.

Tim added: "We've run these simple tests every year for eight years and the 'frozen' product always wins out. The freezing process at sea just locks-in the wonderful flavours. Fish frozen at sea retains its nutritional value and makes the perfect low-cal supper simply grilled or steamed with new potatoes and vegetables."

FASFA is a trade organisation representing trawler owners and distributors of 'frozen at sea' (FAS) filleted fish from the UK, Norway, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Spain, Russia and Greenland.

FASFA trawler members fish the carefully managed North Atlantic and Barents Sea waters and supply 90% of the UK's fish and chip shops.

Words: Maria Bracken

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