Why is Chef Select Beef Lasagne classified as ultra-processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

It is made from pre-cooked beef, tomato sauce, semolina, cheese and other ingredients that are mixed, heated and sealed in a plastic tray, and it includes functional additives such as xanthan gum (E415) as a thickener, modified corn starch, carob seed flour and natural flavourings; these processing steps and added substances place it in NOVA 4.

How does the salt content of Chef Select Beef Lasagne impact a hypertensive or low-sodium diet?

The product contains 0.68 g of salt per 100 g, which translates to roughly 2 g in a typical 300 g serving; while this is well below the average 3.55 g per 100 g for ready meals, it still contributes a noticeable portion of the recommended maximum of 5 g of daily salt, so people with hypertension should keep portion sizes modest.

Is the dairy in Chef Select Beef Lasagne a problem for people with milk allergies or lactose intolerance?

Yes; the lasagne includes emmental cheese, skimmed milk powder and other milk derivatives, all of which contain milk proteins and lactose, and milk is listed as an allergen on the label, making the product unsuitable for anyone with a milk allergy or significant lactose intolerance.

Fentimans, Toque du chef • 1 kg

Chef Select Beef Lasagne

Composite Foods

Product Insights

Chef Select Beef Lasagne, sold at Lidl in France and produced by Fentimans and Toque du chef, is a ready-to-heat one-dish meal that combines 24 % French raw beef with tomato sauce, durum wheat semolina, emmental cheese and a blend of seasonings. It is classified in the ultra-processed NOVA 4 group and carries a Nutri-Score of C (score 4), providing moderate amounts of fat, saturated fat and salt while delivering low sugars and 6.4 g of protein per 100 g. The product offers convenient protein and vegetables, but the relatively high saturated fat, presence of milk allergens, added thickeners and natural flavourings may be concerns for those limiting saturated fat, dairy or seeking minimally processed foods.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

moderate

Sugars

low

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal176 kcal

Fat9.6 g

Saturated Fat3.6 g

Carbohydrates14 g

Sugars1.6 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with typical ready-meal averages, this lasagne has lower sugar (2.2 g vs 3.57 g), lower salt (0.68 g vs 3.55 g) and lower energy (≈154 kcal vs 175 kcal), but higher saturated fat (2.6 g vs 1.94 g) and slightly less protein (6.4 g vs 7.16 g).

Ingredients

48% Bolognese Filling (Water, 29% Cooked Beef Meat, 11% Triple Tomato Concentrate, Onion, Modified Starch, Salt, Wheat Flour, Milk Derivatives [lactose (Milk), Milk Protein], Garlic, Skimmed Milk Powder, Herbs, Sugar, Spices), 26% Béchamel Sauce (Water, Rapeseed oil, Wheat flour, Skimmed Milk Powder, Modified Starch, Salt, Spices), 20% Pasta (Durum Wheat Semolina, Water), 5% Emmental Cheese (Milk).

84%

35%

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