{"id":719,"date":"2026-01-21T15:00:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/agrifood-futures\/?p=719"},"modified":"2026-05-06T16:29:55","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T15:29:55","slug":"salty-facts-takeaways-have-more-salt-than-labels-claim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/agrifood-futures\/salty-facts-takeaways-have-more-salt-than-labels-claim\/","title":{"rendered":"Salty facts: takeaways have more salt than labels claim"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Some of the UK\u2019s most popular takeaway dishes contain more salt than their labels indicate, with some meals containing more than recommended daily guidelines, new research has shown.<\/p>\n

Scientists found 47% of takeaway foods that were analysed in the survey exceeded their declared salt levels, with curries, pasta and pizza dishes often failing to match what their menus claim.<\/p>\n

While not all restaurants provided salt levels on their menus, some meals from independent restaurants in Reading contained more than 10g of salt in a single portion. The UK daily recommended salt intake for an adult is 6g.<\/p>\n

Perhaps surprisingly, traditional fish and chip shop meals contained relatively low levels of salt, as it is only added after cooking and on request.<\/p>\n

The University of Reading research, published today (Wednesday, 21 January) in the journal\u00a0PLOS One<\/a><\/em><\/i>, was carried out to examine the accuracy of menu food labelling and the variation in salt content between similar dishes.<\/p>\n

Professor Gunter Kuhnle, who led the study from the University of Reading, said: \u201cWe conducted this research because we suspected that many menu labels were inaccurate on salt. It is very difficult for restaurants to provide accurate values without measuring each meal. Variations in preparation methods, ingredients used and portion sizes mean food labels are often guess work. It’s virtually impossible to know exactly how much salt is being added to your dinner.<\/p>\n

\u201cFood companies have been reducing salt levels in shop-bought foods in recent years, but our research shows that eating out is often a salty affair. Menu labels are supposed to help people make better food choices, but almost half the foods we tested with salt labels contained more salt than declared. The public needs to be aware that menu labels are rough guides at best, not accurate measures.”<\/p>\n

Chip choices\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The researchers bought 39 takeaway meals from 23 outlets across Reading, from mainstream restaurant chains and local independent takeaway restaurants.<\/p>\n

The research team\u2019s key findings include:<\/p>\n