May 11, 2009: 04:51 AM EST
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has released a scorecard measuring the sodium content of restaurant meals. The nutrition watchdog group said that more than 80 percent of the 102 meals it analyzed contained more than the recommended daily limit for sodium. Its survey covered 17 full-service and quick-serve chains. The top-scorer was Red Lobster’s Admiral’s Feast, which contained 7,106 milligrams of salt, compared with a recommended daily 2,300mg for healthy Americans and 1,500mg for people with high blood pressure, African-Americans and baby boomers. Meals from Chili's, Olive Garden and Denny's filled the slots from 2 to 7, with KFC, Dairy Queen, and Arby's ranked at Nos. 8, 9, and 10. More than 150,000 premature deaths could be prevented each year if people consumed less sodium, say hypertension experts. CSPI executive director Michael Jacobson acknowledged that it is difficult for restaurants to cut sodium without adversely affecting the taste. He suggested reducing portion sizes, and seeking suppliers of low-sodium ingredients. The organization is pressing the FDA to regulate sodium content in foods, to ensure a “level playing field” for manufacturers and restaurants.
Blair Chancey , "More Bad News for Sodium", qsrmagazine.com, May 11, 2009, © Journalistic Inc.
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