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A new study published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health reveals that the food sold in popular sit-down restaurant chains had more sodium in one meal than the allotted amount for an entire day. And the worst part is many of the meals we perceive to be healthy — such as stir fries and salads — are packed with sodium.

The study

The study analyzed more than 4,000 items sold in both fast food and popular sit-down restaurants. Researchers then filtered through nutritional information on the restaurants’ websites to see how much sodium was actually in the meals.

The results

On average, individual sit-down restaurant menu items contained 1,455 mg sodium/serving or 97% of the adequate intake (AI) level.

• 40% of all sit-down restaurant items analyzed exceeded the AI for sodium

• More than 22% of sit-down restaurant stir fry entrées, sandwiches/wraps, ribs, and pasta entrées with meat/seafood exceeded the daily tolerable upper intake level (UL) for sodium.

• Fast-food restaurant meal items contained, on average, 1,011 mg sodium (68% of the daily AI),

• Side dishes (from sit-down and fast-food restaurants) contained 736 mg (49%).

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