Salt levels in fast food often surprise many readers. People rarely add extra salt to fries or burgers because the items on menus already carry a salty punch. A CMAJ study evaluated fast food sold in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, France, and the United Kingdom, looking at popular chains including Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald’s, Domino’s Pizza, Pizza Hut, Burger King, and Subway. The study notes that in Australia Burger King operates under the name Hungry Jack’s. Across these markets, researchers found that sodium levels can vary widely from one restaurant to another and between countries. The scope covered more than 2,000 menu items spanning burgers, pizzas, salads, French fries, and chicken sandwiches, revealing a broad snapshot of how salt shows up in meals that people grab on the go.
The countries involved were Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, while the sample included the major global players Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald’s, Domino’s Pizza, Pizza Hut, Burger King, and Subway. In Australia, the Burger King brand is Hungry Jack’s. The breadth of the study allowed researchers to compare a wide range of foods across menus, from burgers and pizzas to salads and sides, uncovering how salt can level differently from market to market.
With more than 2,000 items analyzed, salt content varied by restaurant and country. Researchers measured sodium levels across food categories, showing that some meals push daily sodium targets quickly while others stay comparatively modest. The findings highlight that salt content is not a fixed value; it shifts with recipe formulation, portion sizes, and regional flavor preferences that shape menus in each market.
The end result showed that Canada and the United States tended to log higher sodium levels than the United Kingdom and France. A concrete example cited in the study shows McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets in Canada containing about 600 milligrams of sodium per serving, while a similar portion in the United Kingdom measured around 240 milligrams. These disparities illustrate how sodium content can differ even for similar menu items across markets.
Overall, Canada often ranked near the top in many categories, with the United States also registering high salt levels in several item groups. The variability depended on the item, with fries potentially salted differently than sandwiches, and pizza toppings contributing further salt. This pattern underscores how national tastes, regulatory norms, and corporate recipes influence what ends up on a consumer’s tray.
The takeaway is not to avoid fast food entirely but to practice moderation and informed choices. Health guidelines urge under 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day for most adults, with 1,500 milligrams advised for higher risk groups; many fast food items still push beyond these targets. When dining out, nutrition information can guide choices toward lower-sodium options, sharing meals, or selecting sides with less salt. Health experts emphasize balancing convenience with long-term health by pairing such meals with fresh foods and occasional indulgences, rather than treating fast food as a daily staple.