Restaurants inconsistent in reducing salt, study finds

While some restaurant chains are shaking the salt habit, others are adding more sodium to their meals, according to a new study. Researchers for the Center for Science in the Public Interest reviewed 136 meals from17 top restaurant chains and found that they had reduced their sodium by 6 percent, on average, between 2009 and 2013.

However, progress has been inconsistent, said study authors for the Washington-based nonprofit. Researchers found that, over the four-year period, Subway, Burger King and McDonald’s had made the biggest reductions in added salt, while the sodium in meals reviewed at KFC and Jack in the Box increased by 12.4 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively.

Four out of five adult meals in the study contained more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium, meaning they exceeded the recommended daily limit for most adults.

Most Americans, including those age 51 and older, those who have high blood pressure, and African- Americans, should try to limit themselves to 1,500 mg of sodium per day, according to U.S. government dietary guidelines. Younger, healthier adults shouldn’t have more than 2300 mg, yet on average Americans consume 4,000 mg a day.

Excess sodium is associated with high blood pressure, stroke, heart attacks, kidney disease and other health problems, according to study authors.