title: The nutritional content and cost of supermarket ready-meals. Cross-sectional analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over-reliance on convenience foods, including ready-meals, has been suggested as one contributor to obesity. Little research has systematically explored the nutritional content of supermarket ready-meals. We described the nutritional content and cost of UK supermarket ready-meals.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a survey of supermarket own-brand chilled and frozen ready-meals available in branches of ten national supermarket chains in one city in northern England. Data on price, weight and nutritional content of meals in four ranges ('healthier', luxury, economy and standard) and of six types (macaroni cheese, meat lasagne, cottage pie, chicken tikka masala, fish pie, and sweet and sour chicken) were collected. Nutritional content was compared to ranges used to identify low, medium and high fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt in nationally recommended front-of-pack labelling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  166 ready-meals were included from 41 stores. Overall, ready-meals were high in saturated fat and salt, and low in sugar. One-fifth of meals were low in fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar, including two-thirds of 'healthier' meals. Meals that were low for three out of the four front-of-pack nutrients were the cheapest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supermarket ready-meals do not have a healthful nutritional profile overall. However, a number of healthier meals were available - particularly amongst meals specifically marked as 'healthier'. There was little evidence that healthier meals necessarily cost more. Further effort is required to encourage producers to improve the nutritional profile of the full range of ready-meals, and not just those specifically labelled as 'healthier'.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Remnant
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK. Electronic address: jma79@medschl.cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000032:analysis; D004739:England; D057140:Fast Foods / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics*; D005515:Food Labeling; D006801:Humans; D062407:Meals; D009753:Nutritive Value; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary
keywords: Diet; Economic cost; Food; Nutrition