Britain’s saltiest restaurant meals for kids revealed

The UK’s saltiest baby food can contain 4.8g of salt, which is the same as 26 bags of Pom-Bears (0.18g) today.

The obesity activists behind the analysis criticized restaurants for putting too much salt in kid-friendly meals like cheeseburgers, pizza and noodles.

More than two-thirds of the more than 300 baby foods found at the nation’s favorite chains contain more than 2 grams, according to the analysis. By comparison, a serving of McDonald’s medium fries contains 0.44 grams.

NHS guidelines state that children under the age of 10 should not have more than 5 grams of salt per day. But restaurants must reduce their salt levels to 1.7 g per serving by 2024. More than four out of ten meals on the list were above this target.

The worst offensive option, the Gourmet Burger Kitchen Cheeseburger with Skinny Fries, is packed with 4.8g.

Salt Action said the findings should serve as a wake-up call for ministers. He wants the government to impose stricter restrictions on what restaurants can offer children.

Eating too much salt can raise blood pressure by increasing the amount of water the body retains, forcing the heart to work harder. Over time, this can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

The NHS recommends that children eat less salt than adults because their kidneys are not that developed and cannot process it either.

Professor Graham MacGregor, a cardiovascular disease specialist at Queen Mary University of London, said reducing salt is the most cost-effective way to lower blood pressure.

This could “help reduce the thousands of strokes and heart diseases caused by this excessive salt intake,” he said.

Professor MacGregor said: “Ministers must now force recalcitrant restaurants to stop adding all that salt, with mandatory reformulation programs, better labeling, and restrictions on marketing and promotions, to truly stop the flow of unhealthy food on offer and the health of our children. risk.’

After the Gourmet Burger Kitchen cheeseburger, Action on Salt’s analysis shows that all three savory kids’ meals are served by Prezzo: Spaghetti King Shrimp (4.6 g), Gluten-Free Fusilli King Shrimp (4.6 g), and Penne King Shrimp ( 4.6 g). gram).

The latter is served as part of a set menu that includes an appetizer of mozzarella and gluten-free garlic bread, bringing the total salt content to 7 g, which is more than double the maximum dose for a child under six years old. .

Other restaurants in the review were Yo! Sushi, Pizza Hut, Miller and Carter, Nando’s, Harvester, Hungry Horse, Wagamama, Pizza Express, McDonald’s, Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Burger King and Ikea.

Pizza Hut’s saltiest dish was Big Boss Thin Pizza Margherita With Fries, which contains 4 g of salt. Meanwhile, Miller and Carter’s Grilled Chicken and Ratatouille with Spicy French Fries (3.54g).

Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Price, Yo Sushi, Pizza Hut, and Miller and Carter’s worst offerings were twice the recommended salt intake for a kid’s meal.

Nando’s, Harvester, Hungry Horse, Wagamama, Pizza Express, McDonald’s, and Beefeater all had 1.71g of saltier baby food.

There were only three restaurants where the saltiest dishes did not exceed government guidelines: Brewers Fayre (1.7g), Burger King (1.7g), and Ikea (1.14g).

The government originally set a target of 1.71g for all children’s meals by 2020, but activists have expressed concern that not all restaurants will meet this target by this date.

Nearly a quarter of all meals evaluated in 2022 increased salt, while a third saw no reduction.

Sonia Pombo, Campaign Manager for Action on Salt, said: “It’s been three years since our previous research to uncover unacceptably high salt levels in UK restaurants and it’s absolutely clear that no progress has been made at this time. .

“These new findings should be a wake-up call for the industry to make child health a priority.

When sodium, the main component of salt in our diet, is too much, our body retains excess fluid to try to balance it.

Excess fluid causes the heart to work harder to pump blood, resulting in a rise in blood pressure. High blood pressure, in turn, increases the risk of stroke and heart disease.

Higher blood pressure makes it harder for the heart to push oxygenated blood to various organs, including the brain, leading to cognitive decline.

A spokesperson for Whitbread, owner of Beefeater, said: “Whitbread Restaurants was among the first companies to adopt the government’s strategy to improve the nation’s health over the past decade, and we have supported salt reduction programs over the past decade.

“We welcome Action on Salt’s research as we recognize that our children’s meals are low in salt and have decided to do more wherever possible.

“We are already meeting the government’s 2024 salt targets and will continue to support action on salt and support salt reduction, always making sure the safety, quality and taste of our meals are never compromised.”

An IKEA spokesperson said: “At IKEA, we will never compromise on the quality of food and will offer delicious, balanced and more sustainable options.

‘None of our baby foods can exceed the maximum recommended salt content. In addition, we ensure that portions are tailored to the child’s nutritional needs – we never offer chips for children’s meals and, where possible, we offer a free vegetarian option. Our refillable baby drinks are low in sugar and our baby jelly is also sugar-free.

“Over the next year, we will focus on developing healthier and tastier baby food that will always come at a low price.”

HOW SHOULD A BALANCED NUTRITION BE?

According to the NHS, meals should be potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, ideally whole grains.

• Eat at least 5 servings of different fruits and vegetables every day. All fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruits and vegetables count

• Basic meals based on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, preferably wholemeal

• 30 grams of fiber per day: Equivalent to eating all of the following: 5 servings of fruit and vegetables, 2 whole-grain biscuits, 2 thick slices of wholemeal bread, and a large baked potato in the crust

• Have some alternatives to milk or dairy products (such as soy drinks) and choose lower-fat and less-sugar options.

• Eat beans, legumes, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins (including 2 servings of fish per week, one of which is fat)

• Choose unsaturated fats and spreads and consume sparingly.

• Drink 6-8 glasses / glass of water a day

• Adults should have less than 6 g of salt per day and less than 20 g of saturated fat for women and less than 30 g for men.

Source: NHS Eatwell Guide