Man exposes secret that every fish and chip shop keeps about their vinegar

You might be a regular down your local chippy, treating yourself to a large portion of fish and chips and a battered sausage on a Friday - but you may not be aware that British fish and chip shops are hiding a sneaky vinegar secret.

Think back to the last time you patiently waited while the woman behind the counter was wrapping up your scran and remember that she most likely asked if you wanted salt and vinegar. Now, if you’re anything like me, you’ll have opted for it swimming in vinegar.

Except what was poured all over your meal, might not have been vinegar at all. I know, I know - is nothing sacred?

YouTuber Tom Scott shared a clip in which he explained that lots of fish and chip shops are actually using a malt vinegar substitute made with water, acetic acid, and flavourings.

And Scott is unimpressed by this, suggesting that chippies should be upfront with customers.

In the clip, he says: “Most people don’t know that this isn’t vinegar. Legally, it can’t be described as vinegar. Trading standards are really clear on that. It cannot be put in the little bottles that people traditionally associate with vinegar.”

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But why are chippies using this instead of the real deal? Well, firstly it’s a bit cheaper and secondly, shops are able to buy it in concentrated form, which means it's easier to store and transport. It’s also halal and gluten-free, meaning more people can enjoy it.

Nonetheless, as you may expect, Brits were shocked to discover their local chippy’s vinegar is no such thing, with one person commenting: “That explains why it doesn't taste the same when I put vinegar on my fish and chips at home.”

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Another said: “I would say it absolutely does matter from a taste perspective. (To me at least) The real stuff just tastes so much better.”

While a third wrote: “This would explain the ‘weak as p**s’ taste to chippie vinegar these days. They dilute it too much.”

But not everyone was bothered, with someone else adding: “I had absolutely no idea! And now that I know, I couldn’t care less. I have actually always preferred the vinegar on the counter and always wondered why it tastes better than the well known branded bottle in my cupboard!”

And a second said: “Chip shop ‘non-brewed condiment’ tastes much better on chips than malt vinegar, but real vinegar tastes better on other things, like a fry up, egg-bread and fried bread and cheese.”