Industry fast food makes efforts to improve its bad reputation for the quality of its food. But according to a study led by researchers at Tufts University in the United States, there is still a long way to go.
After analyzing the nutritional content of the most popular menus (cheeseburger, fries, grilled chicken sandwich and soda), scientists noticed a decrease in portion sizes, but still very high fat and salt levels. If 56% of products are less caloric today compared to ten years ago, the remaining 44% are fatter and saltier than before.
The health of children and adults
The lack of a balanced diet is particularly bad for children, recalls Alice Lichtenstein, lead author of the study, but also for adults. The fact that some fast food chains have managed to balance their menus means the industry as a whole is able to take the plunge, the researchers say.
“For this reason, our results suggest that public health efforts still need to be made to reduce the number of calories and the overconsumption of certain foods,” notes Alice Lichtenstein. “A difference of 100 calories per day can translate into a weight change of 4.5 kg per year.”
