Twenty Merseyside chip shops have received awards from their local council in recognition of the work they are doing to produce healthier chips.

As part of St Helens Council’s Chip Fryer Awards, introduced in 2014, seven fish and chip shops across the borough have achieved a Gold award, while 13 establishments have gone on to claim Platinum status for adopting certain cooking and preparation processes which results in their chips containing less saturated fat.

Methods to achieve the gold award include cooking chunkier cut chips at a higher temperature, using hotter cooking oil and reducing the amount of salt – while in order to achieve Platinum status, businesses must have already achieved the Gold award and meet additional criteria, such as filtering oil daily and using separate fryers for meat products.

Representatives from the chippies were invited to a presentation ceremony in the Council Chamber at St Helens Town Hall where they received a framed certificate to display in their premises.

The event also saw the launch of the council’s new award, the ‘Healthier Options St. Helens Takeaway’ (HOST) scheme, in which businesses sign a pledge to state that they will gradually work towards reducing salt or fat across their menus. These changes could include preparation and cooking methods or the option to purchase smaller portions and offering water as part of a meal deal.

Seven businesses to date have signed up to the HOST pledge which requires selected food samples to be sent to a laboratory to be analysed before a salt or fat reduction level can be agreed.

Commenting on all of the businesses achievements, Teresa Mercer, St Helens Council’s Community and Business Health Promotions Officer, said: “The council recognises that all food businesses in the borough have an important part to play in ensuring healthier options are available to their customers, and it is great to see that so many of these businesses are on board with our Chip Fryer and HOST awards to allow this to happen.

“Just because a meal contains less salt and fat, it doesn’t mean that it loses its delicious taste.

“The response from registered businesses has been phenomenal, with a couple of fish and chips in the borough even offering gluten free fish and chips.

“We hope to see even more businesses take part in these awards.”

Platinum Chip Fryer Award winners

  Billinge Supper Bar, Main Street, Billinge

  Blackbrook Supper Bar, Blackbrook Road

  Chip Pan, Station Road, Ashton in Makerfield

  Chipmunk, Thatto Heath

  Crisp E Cod, Hoghton Road

  Crispy Cod, Kenyons Lane South, Haydock

  Frydays, Extension View

  Haydock Supper Bar, West End Road, Haydock

  Marg’s Chip Shop, Balfour Street, St Helens

  Maria’s Plaice, Elephant Lane, Thatto Heath

  Nelson Chippery, Bridge Street, St Helens

  Newtown Fish Bar, Cambridge Road, St Helens

  The Tasty Corner, Greenfield Road, Dentons Green

Gold Chip Fryer Award winners

  Rainford Village Chippy, Ormskirk Rd, Rainford

  Rainhill Fish Bar, Warrington Road, Rainhill

  Robins Lane Chippy,  Robins Lane, St Helens

  Chipmunk,  Boundary Road, St Helens

  Robins Lane Chippy,  Robins Lane, St Helens

  Crispy Cod, Knowsley Road, St Helens

  Newton Fish Bar,  Crown Street, Newton-le-Willows