MUMBAI: The outbreak of bird flu which affects chicken is causing non-vegetarian consumers to opt for fish delicacies in hotels and restaurants. Yet, hoteliers say, the drop in the number of orders for egg or chicken dishes is but marginal, because diners know these Indian recipes are cooked at high temperatures and are therefore safe for consumption.
AHAR president Shivanand Shetty said that while there has been a very marginal dip in the sale of egg dishes and poultry meat in restaurants, they are witnessing an increase of 15-20% demand for fish. "In line with what health and poultry experts have been advising, we cook the poultry products properly at over 70 deg. C before serving to our customers. We also ensure that our members procure egg and poultry from FSSAI certified vendors only," he said.
HRAWI senior vice president Pradeep Shetty said fish dishes cannot compensate for the vast demand for chicken and egg servings in restaurants. "However, fish is comparatively more in demand currently," he said. He said there was no adverse impact on chicken and egg orders as they are cooked at prescribed high temperature. Even in the past, bird flu had no negative impact on servings or takeaways.
The fishing community is reporting higher sale too. Devendra Tandel, newly elected president of the Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti, interviewed fishermen's unions in Versova, Vasai, Uttan and Bhayander. "There is a palpable rise in demand across these regions that has caused prices of fish to double or treble even. With more non-vegetarians turning to fish owing to the fear of bird flu, the retail price of fish has risen by Rs 150-250 per kilo."
He said, "The highest increase is visible in pomfret which is costlier by Rs 500 per kilo -- from Rs 400 to Rs 900. Prawns are selling for Rs 550 up from Rs 350, surmai costs Rs 600 as compared to Rs 350 earlier. Meanwhile, wet bombil is scarcely available. It was selling for Rs 200 but has now come to cost Rs 400."
Tandel said the price increase is exacerbated by the fact that the catch drops from December through March when fish commonly seek deeper waters from to escape the winter chill nearer the surface. "Vendors say they have had to increase rates due to low availability of fish, but the demand has not dropped because people prefer fish to chicken in times of bird flu," he reported.