為什麼英國人痴迷快餐？

Britains obsession with ready meals has reached staggering proportions.

（英國人痴迷快餐）

Since their invention in 1953, the British have developed something of an addiction for ready meals, and today spend ￡3 billion on them every year — more than any other country in Europe.

（1953年快餐業興起後，英國人痴迷快餐，時至今日，英國的快餐業也有30億的份額，遠超其他歐洲國家。）

The average UK household munches its way through three shop-bought instant-cook microwaveable dinners a week, instead of cooking fresh food from scratch.

（歐洲家庭平均每周吃三次快餐，但是他們並不現做。）

When they first came out, ready meals were impossibly exotic and exciting, they were magical things. Retailers have further enhanced the image of ready meals by using premium packaging and premium positioning.The ready-made meal has undergone a change of image, from being deemed as unhealthy, lazy food to being repositioned as a premium, indulgent option.

（當快餐剛剛興起是，無人問津。小商販們不得不將包裝盒做的高大上，以此來招攬顧客。如今，快餐已經經歷了一系列的變化，從以前的不健康，懶人食品，到現在，成為高級，快捷的代名詞。）

The traditionally insular British are becoming ever more cosmopolitan—a trend initiated by the spread of cheaper air travel and foreign holidays. This is reflected in their preference for ethnic ready meals, with Indian, Chinese and other Asian recipes being hugely popular choices.

（一個悶騷的傳統島國現在已經變成了兼容並蓄的大國，其原因要歸結於廉價的空運以及海外度假。同時英國人酷愛民俗食物，尤愛印度，中國及亞洲其他國家的小吃。）

So why are we so hooked on instant microwave dinners? What really goes into them? And how unhealthy are they? From meat glue to the dishes with more sugar than a can of Coke, we reveal the unpalatable truths behind ready meals. Listen to the next part of the episode to find out more.

（那麼，為什麼英國人對快餐如此著迷呢?到底發生了什麼?它們有多不健康?從「肉膠」到比一罐可樂更多的糖，我們揭示了快餐背後令人不快的真相。請收聽本期節目的下一部分，了解更多。）

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