The industry of fast food made efforts to improve its bad reputation regarding 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), the scientists noticed a reduction 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 fattier and saltier than before.
The health of children and adults
The lack of balanced food is particularly bad for children, recalls Alice Lichtenstein, lead author of the study, but also for adults. According to the researchers, the fact that some fast food chains have succeeded in balancing their menus means that the industry as a whole is able to take the plunge.
“For this reason, our results suggest that public health efforts are still needed to reduce the number of calories and the overconsumption of certain foods”, observes Alice Lichtenstein. “A difference of 100 calories per day can translate into a weight change of 4.5 kg per year.”
