Smiley fritz is a traditional South Australian variety of devon dyed in such a way that it reveals a smiling face as it is cut.[1] Devon is a manufactured meat product available in Australia and New Zealand that is known under different regional names,[2][3] but the South Australian variety, known generally as bung fritz, uses some different ingredients to those found in similar products in other states.[4]
Smiley fritz has traditionally been provided free to children at South Australian butchers and supermarkets.[5] This led to controversy when free smiley fritz was banned from a Tanunda supermarket in 2019 due to being a "slipping hazard".[6][7] There were rumours that smiley fritz and fairy bread had been banned from South Australian schools in early 2024, but the Department of Education issued a clarification that it, along with other lunch meats, were not recommended, but they were not banned.[8]
A vegan version of smiley fritz was released in 2021.[9]
References
edit- ^ Sarah Basford Canales (17 June 2020) "Dim Sims and Continental Rolls: The Foods Some Australian States Claim They Own", Lifehacker, retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ "Outrage as South Australian supermarket bans handing out smiley fritz to children", SBS. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ "Four Corners: Devon, Polony, Stras or Fritz?". ABC. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ Williamson, Brett (24 April 2017). "Bung fritz: What is actually in South Australia's iconic smallgood delicacy?". ABC. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ "Smiley Fritz", Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ Fedorowytsch, Tom (9 Jan 2019). "South Australian supermarket bans free smiley fritz for children due to 'slip hazards'". ABC. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ Fowler, Bella (10 January 2019) "An ode to Smiley Fritz, the friendly slice of meat every South Australian kid will remember", Mamamia. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ "EDUCATIONSA Education Department issues statement clarifying Fairy Bread bans following media frenzy" (13 February 2024), Glam Adelaide. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ Owen, Georgia (5 September 2021). "Adelaide's first vegan butcher launching with plant-based smiley fritz", Glam Adelaide. Retrieved 16 June 2024.