Compare frozen meals

Research · Frozen meals

What our research found about frozen meals

Frozen pizzas, bowls and entrées are prepared foods, so their labels are longer than most pantry staples and sodium is usually the first number to check. The American Heart Association says most of the sodium Americans eat comes from packaged, prepared and restaurant food. Cauliflower and almond-flour crusts change the carbohydrate profile but often add starches, gums and oils.

Compare portions: a “serving” of pizza may be a third of the pie. Look at protein, sodium and saturated fat per serving and at the type of oil in the crust and sauce. Allergen statements matter because many recipes contain cheese, egg, wheat and soy.

Products

434 brands

Full labels recorded

25% of the shelf

Maker says organic

0maker’s claim

List an added sweetener

0of 2 labels

List a seed oil

0of 2 labels

Typical label length

16ingredients (median)

Counts use complete, current ingredient labels only. Records without a published label stay unknown and are never counted as clean.

What to compare

• Sodium per serving. Frozen meals can supply a large share of the day’s sodium in one serving.
• Serving definition. Check how many servings the package counts and how many you will eat.
• Crust and sauce ingredients. Starches, gums and refined oils are common in alternative crusts.
• Allergens. Cheese, egg, wheat and soy are common; read the allergen statement.

References

1. How much sodium should I eat per day? American Heart Association
2. Sodium in your diet U.S. Food and Drug Administration
3. Food allergies and allergen labeling U.S. Food and Drug Administration
4. Protein Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health