All the risks and disadvantages of ready-made dishes

They're full of salt, preservatives, and additives. They increase the risk of obesity and are of lower nutritional quality than home-cooked meals.

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All the risks and disadvantages of ready-made dishes

It seems incredible how in a country like Italy, the cradle of Mediterranean cuisine, and a population passionate about DIY cooking, one of the food markets that never stops growing is the convenience food market, or even pre-cooked food. Its value is estimated at approximately €2,5 billion annually, with distribution channels ranging from supermarkets to delicatessens. Every year, this market grows by double digits, partly due to a tendency to eat in a hurry, quickly, and without always paying attention to food quality. But there is also an increasing number of studies scientifically demonstrating the potential harms of pre-cooked dishes.

Main disadvantages

These are the main disadvantages of ready-made dishes, wherever they are purchased.

1. High salt content

  • They often contain a lot of sodium to keep them fresh longer.
  • Excessive consumption can promote high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems.

2. Preservatives and additives

  • They may include chemicals to improve taste and shelf life.
  • Some additives, if consumed in large quantities, can cause discomfort or unwanted effects.

3. Low-quality fats

  • Some ready meals use refined oils or saturated fats.
  • They may increase the risk of high cholesterol.

4. Reduced nutritional value

  • Industrial cooking and preservation can reduce vitamins and minerals.
  • Compared to a fresh meal, they are often less balanced.

5. Microbiological risk (if poorly preserved)

  • If the cold chain is not respected, bacteria such as Salmonella or Listeria monocytogenes can develop.
  • This can cause food poisoning.

The effect on portions

Pre-cooked meals don't allow any control over portion sizes: you buy a package "blind" and don't even know exactly what's inside. This obviously increases the risk of dieting and the fattening effect of ready-made foods. And it adds to the widespread poor quality of these products.

Less nutritional value

Uno published study su Public Health Nutrition (2023), by a team of researchers from the Rowett Institute at the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom, compares ready-made meals with equivalent home-cooked meals. The results: they have significantly lower nutritional quality, higher greenhouse gas emissions, and are also significantly more expensive.

Higher risk of obesity

An recent research A group of researchers from the University of Luxembourg, however, has highlighted the risks of uncontrolled weight gain due to the habit of eating ready-made foods.

The survey was conducted on a nationally representative sample of 1352 subjects aged 18 to 69, participating in the national ORISCAV-LUX (Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg) survey. Daily consumption of ready-to-eat meals was calculated as follows: consumption frequency × portion size × number of portions consumed. The sum of the daily consumption values ​​of the eleven prepackaged dishes included in the Food Consumption Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) represented the total daily consumption of ready-to-eat meals (g/day) for each participant. Approximately 97% of participants reported consuming ready-to-eat meals daily. Ready-to-eat meal consumption was highly prevalent among men living alone and varied according to education level. Ready-to-eat meal consumption provided over 7% of total daily energy. The percentages of macro- and micronutrients derived from daily consumption of ready-to-eat meals ranged from 10% for total cholesterol to 0,65% for total fiber. Higher consumption of ready-to-eat meals was found to be independently associated with abdominal obesity. After controlling for age, gender, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle factors, daily consumption of ready-to-eat meals was associated with higher energy intake and poorer adherence to national nutritional recommendations, and therefore could plausibly increase the risk of central obesity and fat accumulation.The bottom line is that cooked foods should only be eaten in emergencies and very occasionally. 

 

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