Luxury ready meals contain more fat and salt than cheaper versions
Study finds that budget ready meals are not only cheaper but healthier as well.
A new academic study claims that ‘luxury’ supermarket ready meals contain twice as much fat and salt as their cheaper counterparts.
The researchers at Glasgow University analysed the full range of four types of ready meals produced by Britain’s five largest supermarkets – Asda, the Co-op, Morrison, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.
It found that Asda’s ‘extra special’ macaroni cheese had 114% of the guideline daily amount (GDA) of saturated fat, while the smart price version only had 48%.
Similarly, Morrison’s ‘kitchen’ beef lasagne had 85% of the GDA of saturated fat while its savers version had 40%.
Meanwhile, Tesco’s ‘Finest’ cottage pie had twice as much salt as the value version.
In response, an Asda spokesperson told the Daily Telegraph: “’Extra special’ is indulgent by definition and our customers love it.”
And Sainsbury’s said it was committed to healthy eating and was the first supermarket to introduce traffic light labelling on its packaging showing the content of its foods.
The researchers also criticised the nutritional value of the meals. Professor Mike Lean, who led the study, called for a series of standards for ready meals, including:
- Creating consistently nutritionally balanced meals
- Establishing a sensible size for all meals
The UK ready meal market is worth more than £26 billion a year.
Are you surprised at the study results? Do you look at the content of ready meals or buy them regardless? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below.
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