Basa. Farmed in the Mekong. One of the most polluted rivers in the world. Having said that, eating it's never done me any harm....that third arm growing out of me forehead is proving quite useful🤪
@@vanzandt8809 It's farmed in the river, just like sea bass is farmed in the Med, and salmon is farmed in the sea and fjords. Why would farming mean it's not polluted?
Yeah they know we wouldn't buy it (I don't) if it were called 'Vietnamese River Cobbler'. Unless your looking for fish like Trout, we naturally assume it's sea fish. I like smoked Haddock for example, but you'll see smoked Basa in the supermarket and assume it's a sea fish. I've tried it and it tastes just fine, but it's a river fish and mostly farmed AFAIK. Anyway I wont touch it. Check your packaging when visiting places like Farmfoods when you are after frozen breaded Cod or Haddock, you may get a suprise if you assume that's what you are getting.
OK , Gareth, Why on earth would ASDA sell a fish product that is specifially designed for Halloween with a use by date of 24th of October when Halloween is on 31st of October? It defies logic.
The same as Christmas. I love mince pies so it doesn't bother me but if u were buying for Christmas now they would be out of date by the time it comes round 😂
@@sneer0101Halloween is just another gimmicky American import. We used to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night, a real historical event, not supernatural mumbo jumbo
I used to get a fish called river cobbler from Tesco. It was dusted in breadcrumbs. At the time very cheap but I found it delicious. Then it suddenly disappeared off the shelves. I haven’t seen it since. However, at the time I decided to Google “dusted river cobbler “ and found it was caught in a particular river in Vietnam that was so unhygienic the people wouldn’t swim in it. Plus the cobbler was banned from most countries. Jeezzz…
@@philipmckeon8944 I still do eat it, mate. As you say tasty, and it's also a cheap source of protein. I'm working on the basis that with modern food standards and regulations, it's now safer. It's a good few years since the scandal hit so, hopefully, it's improved🤞
The so called "river" is the Mekong, particularly in the South of Vietnam. It's not just about hygiene, It's about the tons of a toxic chemical called Agent Orange that the American forces sprayed over the South (mainly), in order to defoliate the mangroves and Jungles. Have a Google of Agent Orange.
Hi mate. It was by watching Paul Messeners channel that I discovered yours, and I am not disappointed. This is tip top entertainment and I am now catching up on past content. You and Paul on a camping trip will be epic ! 👍
I wouldn’t eat these because they are made from Basa fish. I’ve said before about it being farmed or caught in one the most polluted rivers in the world. As these are marketed for Halloween, and therefore kids, I think using Scotch Bonnet chillies is not the way to go. Use a milder chilli that kids can handle. A good review yet again 👍🏻. Mostly on this one? It shows you should checkout the ingredients before buying.
Usually when someone sees the word 'goujon', they think 'chicken'. I honestly thought these were chicken at first, they definitely need to clarify on the front.
@@kellyjune1931 spreading nonsense all over the comments again! The FHI vigorously inspect imported fish and take samples. Don't you think they would have banned it by now according to your scientific conclusions?
The Chinese and Thai Basa is suspect mainly due to the pollutions in the water although we are getting not far behind them. But there seems to be plenty of Chinese around so who knows. I do like my haddock so probably wont try these but its still nice to see what is out there.
Yep, totally agree about our waters being polluted too but, their waters are polluted with one of the most evil poisons known to Man - Agent Orange, from the days of the war with america!
Goujons were traditionally fish but the term is nowadays also applied to chicken cooked as thin strips in breadcrumbs. I dont think asda are trying to trick (or treat) anyone
The same asda that kept the prices of their flavoured sausages the same by shifting WATER up the list of ingredients. Lol! As far as I'm concerned, trick seems to be the default with ass-da!
You have to go camping with Paul Messner. Nice bloke and very knowledgeable about camping. Maybe bring some goujons up a mountain. He'd be a good collaboratio.
These sneaky manufacturers don't want to tell you what you're buying. Why can't the package proudly state basa on the front? Have they got something to hide? Well, of course, if they did say what it is up front, fewer people would buy it. Because meanwhile consumers are finding out that basa is catfish, and not wild catfish, but farmed catfish. From Vietnam. If catfish can be farmed, why are there no catfish farms in Scotland next to the salmon farming enterprises? So, yes, always check the small print. I think the manufacturer of this product puts such a lot of coating on so as to make it tasty, especially with the sauce which Gareth thought was very tasty.
I found this Gaz using Google not picking at anything I was just curious checking my own memory you might say....The word goujon derives from the French word 'Gudgeon' which is the common name for a number of small freshwater fish. However, a goujon is also commonly used to refer to strips of chicken.
I think they are "Anti it" because, as in this case, It's from Vietnam, check out Vietnam war/Operation Ranch hand/ Agent Orange. If this fish has been anywhere near the South, particularly and notably, the Mekong delta/river - forget it!
a lot of fish and chip shops in Scotland in Scotland are using Basa to replace Haddock as are supermarkets with things like smoked Basa fillets to replace smoked haddock, Basa in general is a mild flavour as it being a freshwater fish, being honest the coating of those goujons would put me off buying them, glad you enjoyed them
Maybe Basa is ok but, as far as I'm aware, a lot, if not all comes from Vietnam (as in this case) and, the waterways of the Mekong delta and a lot of the land, (South in particular) were/are poisoned by Agent Orange still! I for one wouldn't go near Basa or any food from Vietnam.
@@kellyjune1931 A bit stupid not to go anywhere near Vietnamese food, as it's easily the top 5 in the world. If it had any toxins in it, do you think it would be on sale?
I remember coming home from playing out in the early /mid70s to a pike layed in the bath, my mam wasted nothing, we ate what was put in front of us. I even remember one beautiful moment when my mam put a plate of sweet bread on the table and i asked what was sweet bread. She replied, bulls bollocks now eat them ! 😂🤣👍
HI Gareth Debra here from South Wales There is actually a picture of a boat on the label, so I knew immediately they were fish. I would not buy these because they are Basa which is horrible, I believe in fully supporting British fishermen as far as possible.
Great review Gaz I have seen that catfish and from you previous reviews of of it no thanks but I would have the chilli sauce that sounds nice and keep up with the great work 👏👏👍👍
It didn't look that great, like a litter tray on the plate ! Yes if it had been chicken goujons and sourced from the UK I might have tried. Thanks for the notice and great video as always. 73's Andy M6APJ.
The hot sauce is a trick to distract you from the taste, or lack of, the meat content of the Goujons, (posh French word for, Bits) 😂 still, you enjoyed the sauce, Spot On
I thought for years that it was fish presented as goujons. I first tasted lemon sole goujons way back in the early 1980's. Lovely light batter, served with a light garlic mayonaisse and rice..... This was at the beginning of the Nouveau Cuisine food trend. They were delicious. I never saw chicken or other meats as goujons until about 15 - 20 years ago and it was around the time 'school dinners' were very poor. Everywhere served sawdust like chicken nuggets, like the sausage meat scandal there strange constituents being passed off as meat. The chicken goujons came to replace the turkey twisters and the chicken nuggets etc.. .
Lols, I always ask for half an ounce of floor sweepings when I'm after the chopped pork and ham slices at the counter. They know what I mean now and just give it to me, you should see the look on other customers faces though 👍😂
1. The range seems to be called "The Dock." 2. There's a picture of a boat on the label. 3. It seems really likely that any sensible supermarket would have had this in the fish section. I'm not _completely_ sure how you're being caught out ... 😅
That’s a literal example of being catfished! “Dad? Why does this chicken taste like fish?”. Unusual to see something that doesn’t say “For best results, cook from frozen!”. Although cooking from frozen often = practically cremate them, otherwise you would get a huge iceberg!”.
Me personally I don't mind basa at all , yeah a lot of people are put off by it but personally by the time I batter it and have it with a Few lemon wedges and a bit of tartare sauce its still a good cheap meal aswell 👍🏻 but yeah everyone is different . They should still advertise it's fish on the front though in my opinion .
I steer clear of Basa as it is freshwater catfish from vietnam. Often caught and left on the bankside for several hours sometimes days in hot humid conditions, ungutted covered in flies. A definite health hazard.
I really doubt that Basa intended for exportation to the UK,or US is left sitting on river banks for hours, in fact I doubt it ever touch’s a river bank.These places are inspected,and I’m sure it’s gutted,and frozen within a very short time.We in the West are not use to food that isn’t fresh,we would be sick, if that scenario really existed.
Gareth never judge a book by its cover I thought chicken as well but it could of been worse veggie or vegan,but then again catfish,I've eaten eel,crocodile&shark.but give me homestyle 1970s cooking anyday of the week.but occasionally your ready meals discover some gems.
The other day I bought a "Paella" from Asda, and when I went to cook it, I found out it was microwave only.... I mean, who wants a Paella that isn't crunchy on the top? It's sacrilege, I tell theeeee!
HI. Gareth Debra here from South Wales I Googled the meaning of the word Goujon goujons /ˈɡuː(d)ʒ(ə)nz,ˈɡuː(d)ʒɒnz,ˈɡuːʒɒ̃/ noun BRITISH deep-fried strips of chicken or fish.
This is coming from someone who has worked in some of the top restaurants in London. Goujon can either be fish or chicken, it comes from the French word Gudgeon, the French word for a number different small types of fresh water fish.
It puzzles me that the fish accounts for only 44% of the product. When you look at the item you cut in half, there seemed more fish than breadcrumb coating. So what else makes up the remaining 56%?
To be honest I think ASDA or the manufacturer is being a bit sneaky. In my opinion it should state on the front of the label if it's some type of fish or meat. Just thinking about basa fish turns my stomach 🤮. I've tried it in the past it's not for me. I've been told by many this fish is very low grade that's why it's so cheap compared with other white fish. Thanks Gareth I will definitely read the labels from now on because sometimes i don't.👍 A lot of supermarkets will have white fish in batter etc on the front of the label but on the back in the ingredients it will say basa fish. Thanks.
I bought some yellow smoked haddock (tesco) to make a kedergree, but when I got home I noticed that it said River Cobbler on the label. After a google it turned out to be catfish from Vietnam. In the bin it went....
As you have found out, always read the ingredients don't take things for granted. Good marketing ploy, how many more people have seen the word goujons and thought automatically as chicken.
I wouldn’t touch Basa, especially if its farmed in the far East. Think of what that has gone through to get here. I have tried it too, harbour bottom springs to mind.
anyone else notice the best before dates on most meats is only a few days instead of weeks iv been caught out loads of times cause i do my main shop on Wednesday and by the time Monday comes its date has passed
It's the other way around for me. If I see goujon, I automatically think of fish. I absolutely love basa fillets in breadcrumbs, but have yet to see basa goujons. As for the Scotch bonnet sauce, well that would blow my socks off.
This is dangerous. It should say fish clearly on the front of the package. Many people are allergic to any fish products and could have a severe reaction if they were to be served these by someone mistaking them for chicken.
Strangely I do like Basa, but I do completely agree that the label should have made it clear that they were fish and not chicken. I may possibly give these a go...
