Salmon and Dill with Pasta and Veg — ENGINEERED

Name: Salmon and Dill with Pasta and Veg
Brand: What's cooking?

Munch or Dump rates Salmon and Dill with Pasta and Veg by What's cooking? ENGINEERED — score 30/90.

A real-fish-and-veg ready meal undercut by a sauce built on maltodextrin, dried glucose syrup, modified starch and milk protein. The whole-food parts are real, but the cream sauce is lab-assembled.

Why this verdict

Sauce is propped up with maize starch, maltodextrin and dried glucose syrup instead of just cream
Added milk protein and cod powder bulk out the sauce cheaply
Over 18 ingredients once the sauce components are counted — NOVA 4
Two added-sugar sources (dried glucose syrup, dried lemon juice on maltodextrin)

Ingredients (13)

Salmon fillet pieces (18%) (safe) — Real fish, good protein and omega-3s — the best part of the meal.
Mixed vegetables (carrot, broccoli, sugar snap peas, 30%) (safe) — Genuine whole vegetables, fibre and micronutrients.
Tagliatelle (durum wheat semolina, egg, 20%) (safe) — Standard refined-wheat pasta with egg — neutral, refined carbs.
Cream / whole milk powder / butter (moderate) — Real dairy fat; fine in moderation but saturated-fat heavy.
Sunflower Oil (moderate) — Refined seed oil added to the sauce.
maize starch (moderate) — Refined starch used to thicken the sauce — processing marker.
Dried Glucose Syrup (concerning) — Added sugar with no business in a savoury salmon dish.
Maltodextrin (in dried lemon juice) (concerning) — Highly processed filler/carrier, spikes blood sugar fast.
MILK Protein (moderate) — Isolated protein added to cheaply bulk the sauce.
Cod powder (moderate) — Processed fish powder used to boost savoury flavour.
Vermouth / white wine (moderate) — Cooked-off alcohol for flavour; minimal at this point.
Salt (moderate) — Ready meals tend to run salt-heavy; watch the sodium.
Dill / parsley / spices (safe) — Real herbs and seasoning — a positive.