The Dark Side of Low-Calorie, Convenient Processed Foods

MFDS analyzes 6,391 HMR products
Fried rice and cup rice meals insufficient alone
Careful checking of ingredient labels required

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Recently, with the increase in single-person households and the rise of 'staying at home' lifestyles due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the home meal replacement (HMR) market has rapidly expanded. However, it has been found that these meals often lack sufficient calories for one meal and contain sodium levels exceeding the standard, requiring caution when consuming.

On the 8th, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety analyzed the nutritional content of a total of 6,391 HMR products sold at large supermarkets, online shopping malls, convenience stores, and other outlets, arriving at these conclusions.

With recent changes in dietary habits and the increase in contactless activities, HMR consumption has surged. According to the Ministry, HMR production expanded from 2.7 trillion KRW in 2017 to 3.46 trillion KRW last year.

However, the analysis showed that the average calories of fried rice, cup rice, porridge, and similar products were insufficient to replace a full meal. When HMR products were categorized into 28 food groups and their calorie, sodium, sugar, carbohydrate, and protein contents were examined, the average calories of fried rice, cup rice, and porridge?commonly consumed as one meal?were only 19.4%, 15.6%, and 13.1% respectively of the daily recommended calorie intake (2000 kcal), making them inadequate as a meal substitute.

More than half (61.2%) of kimbap, hamburgers, sandwiches, and fried noodle products were classified as high-calorie, low-nutrition foods. A Ministry official stated, "Fried noodles, lunch boxes, and kimbap contain more than 50% of the daily sodium limit (2000 mg)." They added, "When middle and high school students consume kimbap, ramen, and carbonated drinks together at convenience stores, their sugar intake approaches the daily recommended limit, raising concerns about nutritional imbalance."

The average sodium content per serving was highest in fried noodles (1361.6 mg), followed by noodles (1204.3 mg), lunch boxes (1152.7 mg), and kimbap (1086.6 mg). Hamburgers, porridge, and tteokbokki had sodium levels over 20% higher than the average for dining out or home-cooked meals.

To properly consume the increasingly diverse range of home meal replacements, it is important to check the nutritional information on product packaging. When purchasing, even similar products may differ in ingredients and nutritional content, so it is essential to verify these before buying.

Salads, which are increasingly consumed as meal substitutes, vary in calories depending on the vegetables used and the dressings served with them, so it is necessary to choose according to dietary goals.

Additionally, consumption should be adjusted according to the nutritional content of the purchased product. When sodium content is high, adding more water or vegetables during preparation or consuming less broth is advisable. When protein is insufficient, supplementing with tofu or fried eggs is recommended.

If middle and high school students purchase beverages at convenience stores, it is better to choose products with no sugar such as water or barley tea, or those with relatively low sugar content like milk.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.