Alongside the likes of cheese, pizza and chicken, fish fingers and salmon have been named as two of Britain’s top 50 favorite foods, according to research commissioned by Young’s Seafood.
The research sought to take stock of Britain’s culinary habits and tastes, with bacon, roast potatoes and sausages also ranking on the list. However, no matter one’s preferred food, British consumers tend to turn to their favorite dish an average of 16 times a month, Young’s discovered.
Nearly a third of all surveyed consumers said that fish fingers were their favorite food, with the nostalgic comfort cuisine beating out salt and vinegar crisps, kebabs and avocado. Residents of Birmingham are the most prone to fish fingers; Brits aged 45-59 were more likely to love the classic morsel.
The research gauged attitudes about buying and consuming domestic, U.K.-produced foods, finding that 68 percent of those surveyed preferred to buy Birtish for reasons of supporting local producers. Moreover, four out of 10 Brits surveyed said they felt the quality of U.K.-produced foods was better, while another one in four said buying British made them feel patriotic. Those living in Edinburgh and Glaswegians were the most enthusiastic demographic when it came to purchasing domestic goods, said Young’s.
“It was really interesting to look into the nation’s eating habits, and explore the UK’s favourites,” said Yvonne Adam, Marketing Director at Young’s Seafood. “These foods clearly have a big impact on us: 81 percent of people say they eat their favourites to make themselves feel happy, or perk them up after a hard day.”
Adam added: “It’s also fantastic to still see such a high demand for fish fingers – we’ve been producing them for years right here in the UK.”
While it’s clear that most Brits have their preferred, go-to cuisine – a preference usually formed during childhood or influenced by mothers, according to the data – the survey also found that consumers in the country are now more open-minded regarding trying new things than in years previous. “Almost three quarters of adults said their culinary horizons had expanded over the past five years, with those in Leeds making the biggest leap into being more adventurous,” said Young’s.
