There are lots of fears and myths associated with seafood but few Brits let the smell of fish put them off eating fish, according to a survey by Seafish, the UK authority on seafood.
A poll of more than 2,000 people from across the UK revealed only seven per cent of Britons said the smell of fish and concern that it may leave an unpleasant odour in their home was the reason they didn’t eat fish.
People living in Northern Ireland have the most sensitive noses with 12 per cent of those polled saying the prospect of a pong meant they were put off eating fish. The Scots are least concerned about the smell of fish with only four per cent surveyed saying this was a turn off.
Seven per cent of those polled in Wales cited smell as a put off while eight per cent of Londoners worry about fishy odours.
The Seafish survey also busted the myth that the fear of choking on a fish bone puts consumers off. In fact, only fourteen per cent of those polled are put off eating fish by the thought of fish bones.
Karen Galloway, Seafish market insight manager, said: “There are many myths and fears associated with eating seafood but it is good to see from the results of this survey they fail to dampen the Great British public’s appetite for eating it.
“Seafood is one of the healthiest – and most abundant – food sources we have in the UK and it has been proven that eating two portions a week as recommended by the Food Standards Agency can significantly help people reduce the risk of a heart attack.”
The survey was conducted by researchers Opinium Research. It also found that one in ten people polled cited food poisoning as the reason for being put off eating seafood.
