How Much Salt is in Kids' Meals?

Here are 10 of the top offenders for high sodium content in fast food kid’s meals here in the US.

Kids' meals at fast food restaurants have way too much salt in them, according to a new review from the World Action on Salt and Health Committee (WASH).

WASH, a group of 95 countries seeking to reduce sodium intake worldwide, found that eight out of 10 international fast food kids meals had more than the recommended amount of salt for children. Sodium levels differed per country, and amazingly, the US wasn't the worst of the bunch! 

Clare Farrand, Public Health Nutritionist and International Program Lead at WASH, says that meals for children ages four to six should top out at 1 gram of salt per serving. The US Centers for Disease Control recommend we consume a max of 2.3 grams of sodium per day, or one teaspoon.

Excessive salt gets kids used to the taste, so they start to crave it. Eating too much salt has been linked to high blood pressure, obesity, strokes and heart problems. "The more salt you eat as a child, the more likely you are to have serious health issues in later life," says Graham MacGregor, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Queen Mary University of London and Chairman of WASH.

Here are 10 of the top offenders for high sodium content in fast food kid’s meals here in the US. 

KFC: Popcorn Nuggets Kids Meal .9 grams
KFC: Chicken Little Kids Meal .88 grams
KFC: Potato Wedges .81 grams
Burger King: Homestyle Chicken Strips (2 pieces) .76 grams
McDonald’s: Happy Meal Cheeseburger .68 grams
Burger King: Kid’s Meal Cheeseburger .54 grams
Burger King: Kid’s Meal Chicken Nuggets (6 piece) .54 grams
Subway: Kid’s Pak Ham or equivalent .45 grams
Subway: Kid’s Pak Beef or equivalent .36 grams
KFC: Extra Crispy Tender Kid’s Meal .31 grams