IF you think the food we’re being sold is shrinking, you may be on to something.

It was recently revealed Magnum ice lollies are the latest shopping basket favourite to become smaller over the past year.

The Double Caramel version of the ice cream choccy treat has reduced to 88ml from 110ml – that’s a whopping 20% less.

Unsurprisingly, the price has stayed the same.

But summer lollies aren’t the only place where manufacturers are trying to give you a bit less.

Other items in the supermarket often contain much less of the expensive ingredients than buyers might suspect.

Shops are packed with items like chicken nuggets and fish fingers with labels boasting 100% fillet which, on closer inspection, contain less than 50% meat.

“Ingredient labels are confusing enough for consumers,” explained Dr Catherine Hankey of the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at Glasgow University.

“Lower-quality processed foods tend to have fewer micronutrients – things like vitamin D and iron – which our bodies need.

“Manufacturers are trying to save money and will often replace higher-quality ingredients found with home-cooked meals.”

There might be some good news, however.

“Often cornflour is used to bulk out a meal but cornflour isn’t bad for you,” added Dr Hankey.

“And some of the supposed higher-quality meals, like macaroni and cheese, have been found to contain more fat than cheaper alternatives.

“Generally, these processed foods should be avoided, or enjoyed only occasionally.

“It may seem expensive but a pot of homemade lentil soup is a very cheap and healthy meal.

“And there’s little difference across brands when it comes to items such as fruit and veg or own-brand pasta or rice.”

The Sunday Post took a closer look at the labels of some shopping trolley-stalwarts to find out how generous the manufacturers really are . . .

 

Tesco Finest 4 British Beef Steak Burgers 454g

Contains…94% British beef.

What’s in it? One of the rare times our investigation revealed a product that mostly contained what it said on the label.

Birds Eye Fish Fingers 100% Cod Fillet

Contains…58% cod.

What’s in it? It says 100% but that’s just the fish itself. On top of that there are breadcrumbs, rapeseed oil wheat flour, potato starch and salt.

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Chicken Tikka Masala and rice 450g

Contains…18% chicken breast.

What’s in it? It might be one of Sainsbury’s fancier chicken curries but the ingredients say there’s more water in the entire dish than basmati rice.

Bernard Matthews Wafer Thin Turkey Ham 250g

Contains…73% turkey

What’s in it? You think you’re buying a packet of cold meat — but more than a quarter of ingredients are other products like preservatives. More than 20% is water.

Tesco Finest Shepherd’s Pie 700g

 

Contains…30% lamb.

What’s in it? There’s a gag about Shepherd’s Pie containing shepherd — but maybe we should be asking if it contains lamb? There’s more mashed potato in this dish.

Waitrose Cottage Pie for one 400g

Contains…28% beef.

What’s in it? Even the posh supermarket, Waitrose can’t escape – although this is one of the better efforts. Only 28% of this cottage pie is beef – less than the potato.

Tesco Everyday Value Chicken Curry 400g

 

Contains…15% chicken

What’s in it? You don’t expect much at the budget range but the biggest ingredient is rice. The remaining curry is bulked out with water, apple puree and corn flour.

Asda Smartprice Chicken Curry 300g

Contains…15% chicken.

What’s in it? Contains chicken breast pieces – but that chicken has already been bulked out with water, salt and cornflour. Rice is the top ingredient.

Asda Vegetarian Cheese & Spring Onion Crispbakes 240g

Contains…15% cheese, 20% onion.

What’s in it? Not even the vegetarians are spared. More than half of one of these is breadcrumb coating, oil and water.

Young’s Scampi 220g

Contains…37% Scampi.

What’s in it? It turns out your plate of scampi is really just one-third of a plate of scampi. Youngs bulk out their crustacean nuggets with lots of wheat flour and water.

Asda Smart Price Fish Pie 300g

Contains…11% fish.

What’s in it? Only a measly 11% of this dish is white Alaskan pollock.

Aunt Bessie’s Deep-filled Steak Pie

Contains…31% beef.

What’s in it? The Aunt Bessie range is meant to conjure images of a trusted relative’s home-cooking. Would you go back if her steak pie was 55% pastry?

 

Pukka Chicken and Gravy Pie 550g

Contains….23% chicken.

What’s in it? Carefully selected tender chicken in a gravy under a puff pastry with a shortcrust base. Not a great deal of chicken, but not one of the worst offenders.

Tin of Heinz Beans 415g

Contains…51% beans.

What’s in it? Who would have thought a tin of beans was only half made up of beans? Tomatoes make up 34%, leaving 15% the likes of water, sugar, vinegar and salt.

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