Salt levels in meals sold at major fast food chains vary substantially across developed countries, according to a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
The study compared the sodium content of meals from Burger King, Domino's, KFC, McDonald's, Pizza Hut and Subway in Australia, Canada New Zealand, France, the UK and US.
Overall, the US had the second-saltiest fast-food menus in the study, with the average product containing 1.5g of sodium per 100g, followed by Canada at 1.4g. They were followed by Australia and New Zealand with 1.3g, the UK at 1.2g and France at 1.1g.
When it came to salads, french fries and sandwiches, Canadian fast food chains had the saltiest versions, while the US took first place ahead of Canada when it came pizza.
An international team of scientists collaborated in the global study analyzing the salt content of more than 2,100 fast food items on the menus of the six major companies. The items included breakfast, burgers, chicken products, pizza, sandwiches, French fries and even salads.
The study highlighted the efforts made in the UK to reduce salt levels in processed foods as a model that could have the same “potential for fast foods”.
The report said: “There is good evidence from the UK that agreement between government and industry on salt targets has driven down the salt levels of processed foods. This model would appear to have the same potential for fast foods.
“Indeed, in the data we present, it is apparent that mean salt levels are already lower in fast foods from the UK than from elsewhere, which may be a consequence of industry's active participation in salt reduction efforts in that country.”
