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05/11/2009 5:40 PM

Eating Out & Salty Foods

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The food watchdog group that told you movie popcorn is filled with fat and some Chinese food is unhealthy has more red flags for consumers.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest says Americans are consuming as much as four times the recommended daily amount of salt when eating at some chain restaurants.

Some of the country's most popular restaurants are under fire for serving up potential heart attacks with each meal they make.

“The high salt content of the American diet is causing tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths every year, “ Michael Jacobson with the Center for Science in the Public Interest said.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest looked at sodium levels from 17 of the country's largest chains. Researchers found all of them offer at least one meal that surpasses the recommended daily amount of 2300 milligrams of salt.

“We found values through the roof,” said Jacobson.

The CSPI claims the biggest culprit is Red Lobster's Admiral's Feast with 7,100 milligrams of sodium,  more than three times what a healthy person should have in a day.

The Olive Garden's Tour of Italy lasagna also made the 10-saltiest list with 6,100 milligrams.

Chili's Country-Fried Chicken Crispers contain almost 2,400 milligrams of salt.

And KFC's popcorn chicken has more than 2,000.

Fast food giants say they do offer healthy alternatives like fruits and vegetables, and the Center for Consumer Freedom says restaurants already provide nutritional information.

CSPI says some chains are committing to reducing sodium, but wants to see even more done including more government oversight. 

Kid's meals aren't sodium-free either. More than half of those tested had a whole days worth of salt or more in one meal.




Kelli Grant
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