This project aims to raise the quality of ready-to-eat meals. Such meals could:

• be fresher, tastier and more appealing
• be healthier and safe
• have a longer shelf life for more viable food business

These three objectives will benefit:

• consumers
• food companies and retailers
• European and national governments

Fresher, tastier and more appealing

The project will develop eight different attractive, fresh and tasty ready-to-eat meal concepts for the growing group of busy individuals and single seniors.

Consumers perceive chilled meals with fresh ingredients as superior over processed meals (pasteurised, sterilised and frozen). They expect such meals to taste better and be healthier. What makes fresh meals look and taste fresh? Which consumer groups are most interested in fresher meals? How should fresher meals be presented to be accepted by these consumer groups? The project hopes to answer these and other questions concerning what consumers appreciate in fresh meals.

Healthier and safe

This project aims to develop meals that are highly nutritional, comprise high quality products, contain natural vitamins, anti-oxidants, secondary plant products, dietary fibres, are low in saturated and animal fats, and contain less salt. Only vegetable oils will be used.

To control the safety of the products, it will be necessary to implement highly sophisticated quality management systems, such as the HACCP methodology and the Food Safety Objectives (FSO).

Longer shelf life for more viable food business

New packaging and processing technologies resulting in better quality meals with longer shelf lives and more consumer appeal will be developed without compromising on food safety and nutritional quality.

These new technologies will enable existing ready-to-eat meals supply chains to become more profitable and enable the establishment of new supply chains. Leading food industries are convinced that the quality of ready-to-eat meals requires a major improvement, and there is sufficient momentum currently to make a change towards a new industry standard.