Despite the recession, volume sales of warmwater prawns have risen by 14% suggesting that their perceived image as a luxury item is changing, according to the latest retail figures from Seafish.
Britons consumed 15,400 tonnes of warmwater prawns worth £190 million in the last 12 months. These figures suggest that consumers are still choosing to buy what have been previously considered luxury food items to enjoy at home.
Warmwater prawns, also known as king prawns, are imported into the UK from South East Asia and South Central America. Prawns are increasingly being used as a healthy meat substitute in curries, stir fries and pasta dishes.
Prawns are also set for a boost in figures after new research by the University of Surrey confirmed that prawns have no effect on blood cholesterol. The research project was organised by the Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB) to dispel the common myth that shellfish raises levels of bad cholesterol.
Dr Tom Pickerell, Director of the SAGB said: "We welcome this new research however many health care professionals continue to advise patients with high blood cholesterol to cut back on prawns.
"Prawns are low in saturated fat, lower in calories than chicken, and a rich source of omega-3 oils, and along with other shellfish should form part of a healthy diet," Dr Pickerell concluded.
