Takeaway threat - Sweet and sour news

SOMETIMES the truth is just too hard to take.

The confirmation that some Chinese takeaways are the equivalent of a wine glass full of lard is hardly news but it puts crispy duck, spare ribs or a comforting sweet and sour pork in a new and forbidding light.

Britain’s Food Standards Agency warns that the average takeaway contains around 1,500 calories but whether that red light is enough to suppress the particular cravings provoked by the smells of ginger, spring onion and soy sauce remains to be seen.

The agency suggests that an occasional takeaway is fine but that regular indulgence is very unwise.

Takeaways are used because people are short of time, can’t be bothered to cook — or can’t — or are indifferent to health warnings. Or they’re drunk.

A good way to confront our looming obesity epidemic would be to teach schoolchildren how to prepare quick but healthy meals. Maybe even meals with less than 1,500 calories a time.