THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAST FOODS AND CONVENIENCE FOODS–DEFINITIONS AND DEVELOPMENTS

Recent social and economic trends affecting the development of fast-food systems are examined, and the effect of these changes upon the food industry and the home consumer is analysed. A system for categorising convenience foods is formulated which includes an analysis of the relationship between methods of preparation and methods of preservation and storage. The use of this system as a means of assessing a degree of convenience on a five-point scale related to methods of preparation is discussed, and definitions which are appropriate to both the industry and the consumer are suggested.