The great British fry-up faces an uncertain future — as Gen Z finds the breakfast too fatty or time consuming to put together, a study has found.
A poll of those aged between 18 and 34 found almost 15 per cent touch a cooked breakfast only once or twice a year, while one in 10 never do.
Home appliance maker Breville, which commissioned the poll, suggested youngsters were being turned off the full English by social media influencers.
Almost four in ten worried the meal was too fatty, and a similar number were concerned about the calorie intake.
And 89 per cent said they experienced “food guilt” after wolfing down the breakfast.
Meanwhile, almost one in four said the meal was “outdated”.
The number of ingredients was another turn-off, and almost a third of the 1,000 Britons surveyed said cooking a fry-up takes too long.
The clean-up was an added drawback for some.
However, there is hope for the fry-up yet, as 70 per cent said they would be more inclined to eat the breakfast if these problems could be overcome.
Of those who owned an air fryer, researchers found that almost 60 per cent had used them to make a less greasy and less time-consuming version of the traditional full English.
“It’s perfectly possible to create a traditional fry-up that’s a little more guilt-free and less hassle,” said Lydia Baker of Breville.
“There’s still time to save the iconic dish. It’s a beloved institution for a reason.”