Salty fast food: Canada has saltiest fries, sandwiches and salads, study finds (with video)

Sarah Schmidt, Postmedia News 





The international team, which included Dr. Norm Campbell of the University of Calgary, looked at the salt content in products sold at Burger King, Domino's Pizza, Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald's, Pizza Hut and Subway.

In addition to these overall geographical trends, the study found that individual items marketed as the same product had "very different levels" of salt in different countries.

The salt content of food categories varied between the same products in different countries. For example, McDonald's Chicken McNugget had 2 1/2 times more salt in the United States than in the United Kingdom (1.6 versus 0.6 g of salt per 100 g).


The authors say the results suggest technical issues, often cited as a barrier to salt reduction initiatives, are not the issue. That's why they want to see governments step in to force fast-food companies to reformulate.


"Governments setting and enforcing salt targets for industry would provide a level playing field, and no company could gain a commercial advantage of using high levels of salt."

A previous study published in 2009 by the British-based World Action on Salt and Health also found variations across countries in the amount of salt in some processed food manufactured, including Kellogg products.