Does anyone remember "Bombay Duck"...The india starter?

Question

What year was it banned from curry houses? Why? And finally is it against the law to sell it? I ask because I was talking the the manager of my local curry house about it and he went away and 5 minutes later on a plate, on my table...BOMBAY DUCK...absolutely lovely. I say bring it back...my misses says it smells like my socks.

Answer 1

im glad they dont sell it its horrible

Answer 2

In 1997, Bombay Duck was banned by the European Commission (EC) of the European Union. The EC admitted that it had no "sanitary" evidence against the product and the UK Public Health Laboratory Service confirmed that there are no recorded cases of food poisoning, or bacterial contamination, associated with Bombay Duck. It was banned because the EC only allows fish imports from India from approved freezing and canning factories. Bombay Duck is not produced in factories.

According to "The Save Bombay Duck campaign" [1], the Indian High Commission approached the European Commission about the ban. The EC adjusted the regulations so that the fish can still be dried in the open air but has to be packed in an "EC approved" packing station. Now a Birmingham wholesale merchant has found a packing source in Mumbai/Bombay and the product is again available.

The BBC notes that consumption in the United Kingdom prior to the ban was over 13 tonnes per year.

Bombay Duck is available fresh in Canada in cities with large Indian populations, such as Toronto and Montreal and is generally known as bumla. Although mainly popular with Indians from southern Gujarat, it is increasingly consumed by the other South Asian populations.

Answer 3

Yeah- it was a bit like the contents of a hoover bag.

Answer 4

I didn't know it was banned - why? I never did like it, though - horrible smell and very salty! However, it is an ingredient in some of the recipes in my curry book, so what can I use in its place? Your question has filled me with questions!

Answer 5

It is delicious. I remember it well. It smells like death though!

Check out this link: http://www.bombay-duck.co.uk/

Answer 6

I remember it, as far as i know it is still available and hasn't been banned or if it has i wasnt aware of it. Hope this helps! :)

The Bombay duck or bummalo (Harpadon nehereus, Bengali: bamaloh, Gujarati: bumla, Marathi: bombil) is, despite its name, not a duck but a lizardfish. It is native to the waters between Mumbai (formerly Bombay) and Kutch in the Arabian Sea, and a small number are also found in the Bay of Bengal. Great numbers are also caught in the China Sea. The fish is often dried and salted before it is consumed. After drying, the odour of the fish is extremely powerful, and it must consequently be transported in air-tight containers.

Despite the rather unpleasant odour of the fish, it is often considered to be a delicacy by connoisseurs of Indian cuisine. If freshly caught, it is sometimes eaten fried in a batter; and in its dried form, it is commonly eaten in a curry. It is also prepared as a pickle. The bones of the fish are soft and easily chewable.

In Teochew cuisine of China, it is called (Chinese: 佃魚; pinyin: tiányú), fresh fish of this kind is very common and eaten in fried with flour. It is salted and peppered when eaten. In Hong Kong, it is called (Chinese: 九肚魚; pinyin: jiŭdùyú) and common, too.

It is also eaten in South Africa.

EDIT

I just found this on the web,

Save Bombay Duck Campaign



In 1997 Bombay Duck was banned by the European Commission (EC) of the European Union. Bombay Duck is a delicacy eaten as an accompaniment to curry. It is dried fish that is usually served fried. It has an acquired pungent taste adored by curry lovers.





The EC admitted that it had no "sanitary" evidence against the product and the UK Public Health Laboratory Service confirmed that there are no recorded cases of food poisoning, or bacterial contamination, associated with Bombay Duck. It was been banned because the EC only allows fish imports from India from approved freezing and canning factories. Bombay Duck is not produced in factories.



Bombay Duck - an acquired taste Updated 16 December 2003

VICTORY NEWS: BOMBAY DUCK HAS BEEN SAVED!!!!

Following my request, the Indian High Commission approached the European Commission about the ban. The EC adjusted the regulations so that the fish can still be dried in the open air but has to be packed in an "EC approved" packing station. Now a Birmingham wholesale merchant has found a packing source in Mumbai/Bombay and the product is again available.

PLEASE ASK YOUR LOCAL CURRY HOUSE TO ORDER A SUPPLY!