Fast Food contains too much salt

The Australian Division of World Action on Salt and Health (AWASH) has found that  commonly eaten takeaway foods contain too much salt, most in amounts that exceed recommended levels for good health (1). The foods surveyed included  burgers, sandwich style foods, salads, chicken products and fries from  popular food chains such as KFC, Hungry Jack's, Oporto, Red Rooster, Subway and McDonald's.

Reducing dietary salt is a key health recommendation as excess salt is linked to high blood pressure and risk of heart disease. Australians are eating about 9g/day over twice the recommended amount of 4g/day and upper limit of 6g/day (3). Children are also having too much with 2-3 year olds consuming 4.2g/day (2) more than the upper limit of 2.5g/day (3) and 4-8 years olds 5.4g/day (2) in excess of upper limit of 3.5g/day (3). Most of the salt comes from processed and fast foods rather than salt added in cooking and at the table.

The survey found:-

• 75% of  burgers and sandwich style foods contained more than half of the recommended daily amount of salt ie >2grams salt/serve or 800mg of sodium/serve. A burger can contain the daily amount of salt and  a sandwich 1 1/2 times the daily requirement. 

• Children's meals were also high in salt in each case providiing over 2 grams salt - over half the upper daily limit for children 2-3 years old and over 37% of the upper daily limit for children 4-8 years. A cheeseburger, small fries and small choc shake from McDonalds contained 3 grams of salt while a Roastbeef sub and double choc chip cookie from Subway contained 2.4grams salt.

• From the previous survery undertaken by AWASH there had been few changes in salt content. McDonalds foods were the lowest in salt and the company had made the greatest salt reductions in their foods from the previous survey.

AWASH advises cutting back the salt from takeaway foods by avoiding cheese, bacon, pepperoni and other processed meat toppings on pizza; limiting pizza and burgers; eating healthy snacks such as nuts and fruit; not adding salt at the table; avoiding foods with asian sauces, cheeses, processed meats; checking  labels for sodium content  on ready to eat meals bought at the supermarket (look for a sodium less than 500mg/serve); ask for chips, fries , salads and sandwiches  without added salt; ask for salad dressings on the side (4).

References:

1. AWASH Fast Food key Findings, February 2009  

 http://www.awash.org.au/documents/AWASH_Fast_Food_Key_Findings%20_February_2009.pdf

2. Commonwealth of Australia. 2007 Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey-Main Findings. www.health.gov.au/nutritionmonitoring

3. Department of Health and Aging, NHMRC, NZ Ministry of Health. Nutrient Reference values for Australia and New Zealand- Executive Summary 2006 ( salt by calculation)

4. St George Institute of International Health, AWASH. Salt and the City . Drop the Salt!  (brochure)