Chester restaurants respond to high salt food findings

Feb 27 2009 by Claire Devine, Chester Chronicle

Restaurants have responded to a survey showing their food contains high levels of salt. CLAIRE DEVINE reports

Research by Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) shows several restaurant meals contain more than the recommended daily salt allowance of 6g for an adult.

Five popular Chester restaurants were among the eateries investigated including La Tasca, Pizza Express, Zizzi, Bella Italia and Frankie & Benny’s.

All were found to have dishes high in salt, with some containing more than 6g – about a teaspoon – of salt per portion.

Eating too much salt can cause high blood pressure.

People with high blood pressure are three times more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke than those with normal blood pressure. High blood pressure can also lead to kidney failure and eye damage.

CASH nutritionist Carrie Bolt said: “Our worry is people eating some of the higher salt meals we found will have no way of knowing how much salt is in their meal or that they have exceeded their daily salt limit, as there is no information available to them in the restaurants.”

“We would much rather restaurants gave customers the choice when it comes to salt in their meals – add less during the cooking stage and let people add more at the table if they want to.”