Panorama tonight

[sarahdavid]

I too watched the programme with interest and have to admit I was shocked by the contents of ak meals, although I do believe as annabel says, only a one sided view was aired.
I also must admit to feeling a little patronised and offended by the statement 'an educated mother would know these things!'
I have purchased these meals on occasion but will think twice about buying them again.
However, that said, i would still highly reccomend ak recipes to others as my son has always had hm food for the majority and when weaning ak books and site were a godsend!
Unfortunately panorama did not show annabel in the best light, although i also feel that a little common sense goes a long way! X

[Claire76]

Can't believe I missed this!!! Might have a ook on BBC i player when I get a chance

[Bubba82]

i'm team AK on this one, panorama always air a one-sided biased view!!

[Janebug]

I have recorded it and will watch it later hopefully. I did so with a little hesitation as I always find the Panorama programmes a little 'Daily Mail' for my liking so not exactly surprising that they went on the attack, if that is what they did....?

I did read the link that BBM posted and found that totally confusing! I agree with Anna07 (I think it was, sorry if not!) that they seemed to be saying on one hand foods are too laden with salt, fat and sugar, but on the other if kids do not get enough fat then this isn't good for them either! I will watch it with an open mind...

I don't think I've bought at AK ready meal but if they are better than other ready meals quality wise then I think that they can only be a good thing (I do think RMs are improving generally, there are some ok ones in Sainsburys and Tescos with less salt and no artificials in). Maybe AK should print her salt and sugar free recipes on the packets (maybe that one or a similar one?) to encourage people to cook from scratch more that would otherwise by RMs all the time!?!?!? ie if you like this why not try making it!?!?! Or is this done already? (Would encourage booksales!?!?!).

Sorry for going on! I should have watched the programme first. AK is a business and commerce will always come into ethics when something is being sold (maybe).

[SephiesMum]

Using AK's ready meals or any other for that matter every now and again is not going to cause any health problems if you feed your child a healthy balanced diet the rest of the time.

However, if you only use processed packaged food then you are going to have problems. The FSA needs to really clamp down on labelling of ALL foods but especially those aimed at young children. Manufacturers use terms that suggest that their product is healthy when it just plain isn't and even if you do consider yourself fairly 'educated' on the subject you can still be misled very easily by the claims.

Personally I don't understand why anyone buys these severely overpriced products in the first place, I also find it absolutely disgusting that sugar is being added to savoury meals, if AK's aim is to get mothers to homecook good food which her books suggest why is she then adding sugar to lasagne? How is your child ever going to eat your homemade version then? Baffling! It seems a case of do as I say until I change my mind and launch a new product.

Still AK is not alone as I believe Jamie Oliver (also a promoter of healthy food) came under fire recently for having massive salt quantities in his pasta sauce range.

The thing that upset me most was that 2/3rd of mother NEVER cooked a meal from scratch. Now even if you work full time it's not that difficult to cook a healthy meal from scratch relatively quickly and probably a lot bloody cheaper as well - which I believe was AK's original point of view until she bought her ready meal line....

[BenandBellasMummy]

Originally Posted by SephiesMum

Personally I don't understand why anyone buys these severely overpriced products in the first place, I also find it absolutely disgusting that sugar is being added to savoury meals, if AK's aim is to get mothers to homecook good food which her books suggest why is she then adding sugar to lasagne, how is your child every going to eat your homemade version then? Baffling! It seems a case of do as I say until I change my mind and launch a new product.

I completely agree, I also think AK sells these products largely on her reputation and previous work which have instilled an element of trust which an unknown brand wouldn't have. I think the meals go against the whole AK ethos, adding sugar and salt so children will eat them

I know Panorama is often a bit scaremongery, but this program raised valid issues and I'm sure made people think.

[cathyg]

i deliberately did NOT watch this programme, panorama just scares the hell out of everyone with their "investigations" & never comes up with any real answers or conclusions & generally confuses the issue. What exactly was the point of the programme?? i'm pretty sure we all know that "ready meals" are not as nutrious as home made meals. Packaged up by AK, M&S, etc etc its pretty much all the same stuff. But occassionally we buy them for convenience. I don't cook everything from scratch, coz 1. i can't be bothered, 2. i don't always know how to. 3. Freddie wouldn't eat it. 4. there isnt always the time. 5. its too expensive (particulary meat). Does this mean i'm a bad uneducated mother who is damaging her child with ready meals- TOSH!

[Princess25]

I will watch this with an open mind tonight as I have Sky + it. I also look forward to reading AK's statement today

[rachaelmae]

I didnt see the programme, but isnt part of the problem that AK didnt specify on the packaging what the guidelines for toddlers are?

I dont see that the odd readymeal is going to hurt, its all about moderation... we all eat crap occasionally

Adding sugar/salt just so kids eat it, is making me giggle alot...

[Leahbird]

Aw didnt realise this was on and only caught the last few minutes of it. Think like Claire \i will watch it on iplayer as it sounded really interesting.