Meals served in chain restaurants routinely have excessive levels of sodium, fat and calories says a new study from researchers in Canada. A team of researchers from University of Toronto reviewed the nutrition content in 685 meals from 19 chain restaurants in the country.
They examined 3,507 possible combinations of possible ways to order each meal. On average, they found these meals had 151 percent of the daily sodium intake recommended by health authorities. They also found that each meal also held 89 percent of the recommended daily fat intake and 56 percent of the recommended calories.
"Voluntary action has failed to reduce sodium levels in foods to any meaningful extent," they concluded. "To protect the health of our patients, prompt, strong regulatory action to lower levels of sodium in processed and restaurant foods is necessary. Those limits should be lowered gradually over the next 10 years to ensure that we meet at least a 50% reduction in sodium intake."
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.