News.Scotland.Org

October19

Have you ever tried to know how much salt you are consuming every day, if not then have a look or else it will be too late. It is known that children are consuming about four times more their recommended salt in take while eating out at leading fast-food chains. A research conducted by Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) reveals that children and elders are consuming high level of salts. The study also highlighted the fact that few of the leading fast-food chains are responsible for this, as their food contains an excess percentage of salts which is harmful for children and elders.

It was found that, while ordering for a Pizza Plus for 4 means you are consuming 12.3g of salt each. This is about twice the normal salt intake for adults, while two-and-a-half times the recommended intake for 7-10 year old and over four times the limit for young ones from 4-6 years. These whooping figures raised a serious concern over the dietary charts of the children and others. The study also found that the variety of food stuffs KFC serves contains a high amount of salt contents. The burger king chicken BLT baguette meal contains 4.8g salts. While the chicken and fries include about 6.3g of salts in them. In this race for highest salt content food stuffs Mc Donalds is also not lagging, a Quarter Pounder here contains 3.2g of slats.

The most scary thing the research revealed was majority of these high content salt varieties targets children. It is known that children love these burgers and pizza and usually have these regularly. Though McDonald’s offer labeling on their food packages and also provides leaflets giving information about the percentage of salt content they carry. The best way to make people aware what they are eating is to provide a nutritional information about the foods.

According to Prof. Graham Mac Gregor, chairman of CASH, the survey shows that some of the meals have salts level staggeringly high. “These salts act as a long-term toxin that puts up blood pressure in both children and adults and thereby causes strokes and heart attacks,” he said. He further said “We know that reducing salt intakes to below the recommended 6g a day for adults and less for children reduces the risk of having a stroke by a quarter, and heart attack by one fifth, so I would really urge people to choose lower salt options whenever they go out for a meal.”

So next time when parents take their wards for a treat at these fast-food centre, be aware what are you eating and what all it contains. Or else you may be having scrumptious food loaded with hidden nasties. Even parents should make their children educated about the importance to know what they are eating, and is that good for their health. Hope next time you or your child encounters with a burger or pizza make sure you are not munching in more salts.