Couscous is a beloved ready-made meal in France, with numerous options available in supermarkets. A comparative analysis of fifteen varieties highlighted nutritional aspects such as salt, calories, fats, and proteins. While many couscous dishes scored reasonably well, Casino’s royal chicken merguez couscous was noted for its high salt content and additives, receiving a low score of 10.5 out of 20. Lidl’s royal chicken beef couscous was also flagged for excessive salt, impacting its overall nutritional rating.
Couscous: A French Favorite
Couscous holds a special place in the hearts and homes of the French, ranking among the most popular ready-made meals available in supermarkets. With a plethora of options lining the shelves, discerning which industrial couscous to choose can be quite the challenge. To aid consumers in making informed decisions, a thorough comparative study was conducted, examining around fifteen ready-to-eat couscous varieties found in stores.
Understanding Nutritional Values of Couscous
This in-depth analysis evaluated the nutritional profiles of various couscous dishes, focusing on factors such as salt levels, calorie counts per serving, and the amounts of fats, saturated fatty acids, fibers, and proteins present. By comparing these metrics against recommended daily intakes, the findings revealed that, overall, the ratings for these prepared meals were fairly decent. However, one standout was the royal couscous from the Casino brand, which barely managed to score above average.
Identified as the least health-conscious option in the selection, the royal chicken merguez couscous from Casino received a disappointing score of 10.5 out of 20. This particular couscous was flagged for containing multiple additives, with the magazine highlighting that it includes four. Furthermore, it was noted for its alarmingly high salt content, with a single serving providing nearly half of the World Health Organization’s recommended daily intake of 5 grams. This makes it one of the saltiest options in the study.
While couscous is generally praised for being a good source of fiber—averaging 6.4 grams per portion—the Casino version fell short, deemed “very insufficient” in this regard. Additionally, despite many couscous dishes receiving high marks for their meat content, the Casino offering was rated as merely acceptable, a reminder that richer dishes often come with higher fat levels.
Another notable mention is the royal chicken beef couscous from Lidl, which also deserves caution due to its excessive salt content. It was recognized as the saltiest dish in the study, a factor that significantly impacts its nutritional score. The findings underscored the disappointment of such high salt levels, especially since Lidl’s couscous performed well in other nutritional aspects.