Pineapple, kiwi and grapes now count as a main course in Tesco’s meal deals after the supermarket was criticised for offering unhealthy options.
Britain’s biggest supermarket has begun including pots of fruit as a main option in its lunch offer, which lets shoppers get a discount when they buy a main, snack and drink.
Mains were traditionally only sandwiches, wraps and pastas, but the category has now been broadened out to include 230g to 300g pots of fruit such as pineapple, kiwi, strawberries and grapes.
Smaller pots of fruit are still being offered as a side, meaning customers could have a lunch of two pots of pineapple and a drink.
The change comes as bread prices soar. The cost of a loaf rose by a record-breaking 19.4pc in the 12 months to March, according to the Office for National Statistics.
While the price of fruit has also been rising, the increase has been smaller. The price of Tesco's fruit pots has only risen by 3.6pc over the last year, according to comparison service Trolley.co.uk.
Tesco's meal deal change has elicited confusion from some shoppers, with one complaining on social media that they felt “robbed” after not realising a fruit pot was now classed as a main not a snack.
The charity Beat Eating Disorders warned that Tesco’s decision to offer fruit as a main could be damaging for people living with eating disorders.
Tom Quinn, director of external affairs at Beat, said: “We're concerned that advertising fruit as a main meal could encourage people who are unwell to limit their food intake, which could worsen harmful behaviours and thoughts.
“It could also contribute to an eating disorder developing if someone is already vulnerable.
“1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder, and supermarkets have a responsibility to work with eating disorder experts to protect those living with these serious mental illnesses.
“This must include urgently removing any practices that would cause harm.”
Tesco's fruit change comes after recent criticism of supermarket lunch offers for their calorific content.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham found that many meal deals contained well over the 600 calories recommended for lunch.
One out of five meal deal combinations at the major supermarkets exceeded the limit. The most calorific combination was found to contain 1,329 calories, which was more than in a McDonald's Big Mac and Fries.
Triple sandwiches such as Tesco’s Chicken Triple or its Sausage, Bacon & Egg were the most calorific mains, while crisps and chocolate bars were deemed the worst snacks.
Researchers urged the Government to make retailers introduce healthier combinations into meal deals.
A Tesco spokesman said: “Our great-value meal deal is just £3.40 for Clubcard members and with more than 10 million delicious combinations available across our stores, there is something for any time of the day.
“Our large pineapple portion makes a brilliant breakfast main and we also have small pineapple portions as sides.”
Tesco gave its meal deal a major shake up in February, introducing a swathe of new products in a move it said was designed to offer more choice.
As part of the changes meal deals were made cheaper for Clubcard holders, at £3.40. Those who have not signed up to the loyalty scheme have to pay £3.90.
The supermarket also introduced a new tier of ‘premium’ meal deals which include a more upmarket main, such as a sandwich from Tesco’s finest range or offerings from brands such as Yo! Sushi and Pollen & Grace.