Fry Monthly's Back the VAT petition reaches Downing Street

Fry Monthly’s Back the VAT campaign has gone straight to the heart of the government.

The petition, signed by thousands of fish friers, was delivered to Number 10 Downing Street by the magazine’s editor, Helen Edmonds, and owner of Olley’s restaurant in Herne Hill, London, Harry Niazi.

Launched in January in association with Henry Colbeck, the petition calls upon the Government to revise the way hot takeaway food is VAT rated.

Helen Edmonds comments: “Currently supermarkets do not charge VAT on the hot food that they sell from their deli counters under the pretence that customers allow it to become cold before consumption.

“The legislation is outdated, unjust and it gives supermarkets an unfair 20% price advantage over fish and chip shops. We hope the government listens to the thousands of fish friers who have put their support to this petition and that we see a level playing field introduced for everyone selling hot takeaway food.”

Research by Fry Monthly and Henry Colbeck shows a raft of hot products on sale at supermarkets across the country that flout the current VAT ruling. Tesco, for example, advertises on its grab2go bags “a sizzling selection of hot food is available from our hot deli ready to take away and eat”, while on the packaging of Sainsbury’s rotisserie southern fried chicken wings and thighs are the words “eat within two hours of purchase” and the label warns “contents are hot”.

Fry Monthly would like to thank everyone that has signed the petition for their support and will keep you updated on its progress.