Hardly had the news that the European Union will ban Kebab and Gyros for food safety reasons, the hashtag #Free_Gryos became trendy in Greek Twitter where hundreds of Greeks added their own tzatziki sauce on the upcaming real or fake news ban.

Εχουν βάλει συντηρητικά παντού, μολύνουν το περιβάλλον, βομβαρδίζουν παδιάκια, αλλά τους πείραξε ο γύρος #free_gyros — Spyros Merkouris (@MarkissiosK) December 1, 2017



“They have allows preservatives everywhere, they bomb little children, but the kebab matters to them.”

Τώρα που χρειαζόμαστε το Grexit, χάσαμε τον Σόιμπλε… #free_gyros — Παπαλάμπραινα ΜΛ (@MariaLykoura) December 1, 2017



“Now that we need Grexit, we lost Schaeuble”

Ποτε δεν φοβηθηκα τοσο στη ζωη μου οσο οταν διαβασα το #free_gyros — Dimlight (@DimLasp) December 1, 2017



“I was never so scared in my life as when I read #free-gyros.”

Στην παρανομία θα πέσουμε Παναία μου να φάμε γύρο ?με συνθηματικό θα μπαίνουμε σε υπόγεια κρυφά σουβλατζίδικα ?

Μας απαγορεύουν το γύρο? Τέτοια Ευρώπη θέλουμε?… #free_gyros — angeliki_ (@Angelakard) December 1, 2017



“Virgin Mary, we will go underground, we’ll enter the hidden gyros grills using secret passwords. Will they ban gyros? Is that the Europe we want?”

The kebab and the gyros in Greece have come under scrutiny in the European Parliament, where MEP’s are worried about phosphates in the food that has grown to become a fast food staple across Europe.

Now gyros and doner kebab are at serious risk to be banned from our lunch and dinner tables, from the grill around the corner. A horror for Greeks and every European with respect to his taste buds.

The European Parliament’s Health Committee has raised objections to a proposal by the European Commission to allow the use of phosphates, including phosphoric acid, di and tri phosphates and polyphosphates, in kebab meat.

The move comes amid concerns raised in a 2012 scientific review over the possible link between phosphates when used as food additives and heart disease – but the evidence remains inconclusive.

EU rules normally prohibit the use of phosphate additives in meat preparation, where they are used to protect flavour and retain water, however there are exceptions.

Kebab eaters in Europe will now have to wait for the vote, due to take place during the Parliament’s Dec. 11 to 14 plenary session in Strasbourg, to find out whether their favorite kebab shops will be serving up sandwiches with the same juicy texture and flavor that keeps them coming back for more.

Late on Friday and after the horrifying news reached Greece and all kebab lovers across Europe, the European Commission dared say that it does not plan to ban the Kebab and the Gyros, name it however you want to. In fact, the EC dismissed the news as such.

EC spokesperson for Health and Food Safety Anca Panduraru dismissed the news on an upcoming ban and told Greek website real.gr that it was the Commission that has recently recommended and approved the use of the so-called phosphates in the meat preparation and that the member states have approved the Commission’s proposal unanimously.

Therefore, the European Union, as legally represented by its executive arm (the Commission) and the Member States themselves, has approved this substance, and in no case “is thinking of banning the kebab or gyros.

“Indeed, we have seen media reports on the use of phosphates in food / EU to ban the kebab. Let’s be clear. The EU does not prohibit the kebab. Our role is to make food safe, “she said adding that the European Parliament will also give its own opinion on the matter in January, she added.



After the EC news, a Greek wrote on Twitter:



“We are winning!”

It should be noted that the Greens in EP have said that food controls have shown that phosphates are being used in deep frozen meat to be use din kebab and gyros and that this substance is dangerous for health if it is cooked and warmed again.

On a Greek TV report at prime time news, I saw a worker at a gyros/kebab grill saying “no, gyros and the meat is not unhealthy.”

Later Friday evening, state broadcaster ERT reported the Federation of Greek Meat Processor Industry said in a statement that phosphates are not used in the meat preparation in Greece.

The alleged ban was spread by German tabloid Bild.

PS I remember some ages ago, the EU wanted to ban kokoretsi,the grilled delicacy consisting of intestines. They didn’t dare.

On the occasion I’m going to order a spicy, juicy



even though I’m not a big fan.

And then I’ll smoke a cigarette – or is it also banned?