sold in British supermarkets were found to contain up to ten teaspoons of sugar per portion, according to a new report by UK-based consumer group Which?.According to health guidelines, an adult’s recommended daily sugar intake is around ten teaspoons of sugar in order to avoid illnesses such as obesity and heart disease.
However, the World Health Organisation believes that adults should have no more than five teaspoons a day – around 25g.
Which? studied 17 supermarket ready meals being sold by Asda, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.
Sainsbury's sweet & sour chicken with rice was reported to have 50.7g of sugar per portion while the supermarket’s crispy sweet & sour chicken with rice had 37.3g of sugar per dish.
The Waitrose sweet and sour chicken with rice had 38.9g in a serving.
Tesco’s chicken pad thai rice noodles ready meal had 37.8g of sugar per portion.
Meanwhile, Tesco Everyday Value sweet & sour chicken with rice had 48.4g of sugar - just under the than ten teaspoons – per portion.
Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said that with rising obesity rates, he found it shocking that ready meals now contain more sugar than a chocolate bar.
He added that the government should set “clear targets for calories reduction as a priority as part of the responsibility deal”.
