Iceland

I do genuinely rely on ready meals a lot.

I shop at Tesco mainly and always go for their Finest range.

I did try one from Iceland but didn’t like the taste or the quality.
I think they use cheap ingredients.
Also, would never buy chicken from them.
It’s bound to be processed.
Also wouldn’t buy fish from them.
I like fresh salmon and only buy trusted sources.
You pay extra, of course, but I think it’s worth it.

Ai says of iceland

Plain chicken breasts: Raw, frozen, or cooked plain sliced chicken breast contains just chicken (and occasionally a tiny amount of salt), making it unprocessed or minimally processed.Plain whole chickens or plain portions: Standard thighs, drumsticks, or wings with no added marinades or coatings are not ultra-processed

If chicken is very cheap, it not only tastes unpleasant, there must be real questions about where the chickens come from and animal welfare standards applied to chickens there.

We don't buy cheap chicken but I am aware that people with families to feed do buy chicken as one of the less expensive sources of protein and cannot always afford free-range organic chicken.

We don't have Iceland here so can't comment on the ready meals.

Iceland Foods committed to transitioning completely to 100% cage-free shell eggs by June 2027, following a revised timeline and pressure from animal welfare groups. The supermarket enforces baseline animal welfare guidelines, including mandatory CCTV in poultry shackling and slaughter areas, and requires all own-label poultry to be pre-stunned.Cage-Free Egg TransitionNew Target: Fully transition to cage-free whole shell eggs by June 2027.Timeline Shift: Pushed back from a previous 2025 goal due to cost-of-living and supply chain factors, leading to a temporary backlash and subsequent reinstatement of the pledge.Barn Egg Rollout: Introduced affordable RSPCA Assured barn egg alternatives across stores to bridge the transition.General Poultry Welfare StandardsSlaughter Compliance: Adheres to the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (WATOK) regulations.CCTV Monitoring: Utilizes monitored CCTV in poultry shackling, stunning, and slaughter areas.Stunning Required: Mandates that all poultry for own-label products are effectively stunned and unconscious prior to processing.

I just looked up M&S poultry standards, and on paper the welfare appears to be much better, however, I found the following, which I'll post a link to as the details and pictures are very grim

Horrific conditions at ‘high-welfare’ farms supplying Marks and Spencer and Happy Egg share.google/ozEndW89fLLV8R3dM

My concern is also the source of the chicken - a lot seems to come from Thailand! - Sainsburys is a big culprit with Thai chicken!

I live in a county that is well known for its chicken production - why are we flying it in from Thailand!

I do of course appreciate that for families on benefits cheap chicken is a godsend.

When I could not afford good chicken, we didn't eat it. Cheap chicken tastes horrible and I have my limits.

Hello Barbadoselle. So pleased you have helped with Iceland it is good when we can have some info about what is good. I think the price is so hard for people it's is helpful thankyou very much

Every other week I shop @Iceland asi
Ike the MY PROTEIN range and Birds Eye breaded omega 3 fish burgers which also go in the Air fryer..YES Tuesdays is 10% discount for over 60s and they do ask to see some proof…
And, I often get a 10% voucher to spend on the non Tuesday if you spend at least £25.00 ..I think the quality and the choice of products are well worth it….
they have Magnums at £2.00 ATM 😊

I buy my fish there as it’s frozen as soon as it’s caught on the boat. I wouldn’t dream of buying my fish anywhere else!

It has lost its way, too many brand names linked to them, all made in the same factory with different labels, very pricey now, may as well go to Waitrose where you don't have to buy 3 of everything to save a £1

We buy frozen fish from Iceland. The packs have reduced from 4 fillets per pack to only 3 now. We are cutting the pieces up to serve 2 for 2 meals. Shrinkflation.

Their frozen Seabass is almost as good as fresh

Not much into ready meals their, but Slimming World beef stew and lasagne - they often have multi-buy offers.

Their ready meals are variable depending on which brand, so you get what you pay for.

They sell Arla milk cheaper than elsewhere.