Can you tell the difference between tinned and fresh food?
A new survey commissioned by the Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association has found that one in four people struggle to tell the difference between a meal made from scratch and one made from canned ingredients.
The ingredients that are most likely to trick people are sweetcorn and even meals such as chili con carne.
Of 2000 people polled, 25 per cent ate canned food and believed it was made from fresh ingredients.
The research found that on average, there are 16 cans of food in someone’s cupboard and they use tinned food for at least three meals a week.
Fifty-six per cent of people said they tend to use tinned goods for side dishes like beans or sweetcorn.
One in 20 people admitted to hardly ever making a meal entirely of fresh ingredients.
A spokesman for Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association said, “Many people have a narrow perception of canned food, but it can be a great addition to any kitchen.”
“In fact, in a taste test, where people were given two meals, one made from fresh ingredients and one made from canned food, as well as some struggling to tell the difference, many said they actually preferred the canned food version.”
Baked beans emerged as the most popular canned food used for everyday cooking and tinned tomatoes, soup, fish (tuna and salmon) and vegetables such as sweetcorn followed closely behind.