Nearly half of takeaway meals tested in a UK study contained more salt than listed on menus. Some dishes delivered more than the recommended daily limit in one serving. The research was led by the University of Reading.
Researchers bought 39 meals from 23 locations in Reading. They found that 47 percent of the foods exceeded the salt values stated on menus.
Pasta dishes averaged 7.2 grams of salt per serving, with one reaching 11.2 grams. The recommended daily intake for adults in the UK is 6 grams. Meat pizzas showed the highest concentration at 1.6 grams per 100 grams.
Curry dishes varied widely, from 2.3 grams to 9.4 grams. In contrast, chips from traditional fish and chip shops contained just 0.2 grams on average because salt is added only on request after cooking.
Professor Gunter Kuhnle, who led the study, said menu labels are rough guides at best. The findings were published in the journal PLOS ONE.
