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Only 43% of Popular Chain Restaurants Meet Nutrition Goals: Study
Researchers said voluntary sugar, salt and calorie targets were missed across UK restaurant menus, and only 9 of 21 chains had more than half their dishes compliant.
Researchers from the University of Oxford found that only 43% of dishes across the UK's 21 highest-grossing restaurant chains met voluntary sugar, salt, and calorie reduction targets set by the UK Government.
Introduced in 2016, these voluntary targets aimed to combat diet-related diseases linked to obesity and high salt, sugar, and calorie content in food.
Wide variations exist among chains: nine of 21 had over half their menu items meeting targets, while Papa John showed 35% calorie adherence, and Burger King, KFC, Nando, and Vintage Inns had zero sugar adherence.
Study co-author Lauren Bandy said, "Voluntary targets alone are not delivering consistent improvements," calling for stricter regulation and improved transparency of individual food companies.
Because restaurants with similar menu styles performed differently, researchers concluded that nutritional quality is not fixed by cuisine type, making healthier menus an attainable goal for food companies.