Some takeaways contain more calories in one sitting than someone is recommended to eat in a whole day, a study of British eating habits has revealed.
Cafes, fast food outlets, restaurants, bakeries, pubs and supermarkets are fueling Britain’s obesity crisis because so many of the foods they sell contain dangerously high calories.
Six in 10 takeaways contain more than 600 calories, which the government says people should stick to at lunch and dinner to avoid gaining weight, according to research by social innovation agency Nesta.
One in three contains at least 1,200 calories – double the recommended limit.
As of 2018, the government recommends that people have no more than 400 calories at breakfast and 600 more at lunchtime and again in the evening, with women and men consuming no more than 2,000 and 2,500 calories in a 24-hour period, respectively. the rest in snacks.
But pizza and fries pack more than the daily maximum—a whopping 3,142 calories. Pizza typically has 2,000 to 2,400 calories, while a burger, chicken nuggets, side dish and soft drink weigh in at a significant 1,658 calories, Nesta found. Still a popular staple of the British diet, fish and chips is also well over the 600 mark with 1,425 calories.
“Our analysis shows that people are buying takeaways that contain more calories than the recommended amount for the day. This should ring alarm bells for policymakers,” said Lauren Bowes Byatt, deputy director of Nesta’s health team.
Brits spend an estimated £21.4bn a year on fast food and takeaways. The market is growing rapidly as consumers increasingly choose convenience over home-cooked food, often ordering online or by phone. Three out of five people eat takeaway at least once a week and 11% daily.
The high-calorie nature of so many takeaways has prompted claims that outlets represent the irresponsible “wild west” of the British consumer landscape.
“For too long the out-of-home sector has been the ‘wild west’ of the food industry due to a lack of consistency and transparency when it comes to the number of unnecessary calories – not to mention salt and sugar – added to food,” said Sonia Pombo, nutritionist and campaign leader in Action on Salt.
“Unlike retailers who are required by law to display nutritional information on packaging, people outside the home generally seem to pay little attention to public health. It is therefore imperative that the next government takes decisive action and enforces calorie, salt and sugar reduction targets to create a level playing field and a more sustainable food environment in the long term.”
While takeaway pizzas are, on average, the most calorific product Nesta studied, sandwiches and wraps contribute more calories to the overall food intake, as many more are sold – 1.2 billion a year – compared to just over 200 million pizzas.
Nesta analyzed what foods 5,800 people in England, Scotland and Wales bought between April and December 2021, along with other data from the University of Cambridge and consumer groups Kantar and NIQ Brandbank.
It was found that:
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Supermarket meal deals – usually consisting of a sandwich, snack and drink – contain an average of 780 calories, more than the recommended 600.
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Burgers are the most popular takeaway in England, Scotland and Wales, followed by chips, fries or wedges.
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People consume an average of 300 calories a day in takeaway food and drink.
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Soft drinks, especially coffee and fizzy drinks, account for 12% of all calories consumed by people outside the home.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, which represents venues such as pubs and hotels, said: “Hospitality offers everything from a healthy lunch to festive treats for a special occasion. The industry is striving to offer customers a wide range of options to choose from, including increasingly healthier options through new menu items, smaller portion sizes and personalization.”
Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, which speaks for supermarkets and major takeaway franchises, said many outlets were helping consumers eat healthier.
“Responsible out-of-home retailers are making progress in supporting customers to make healthier choices in the food they buy, through better calorie labelling, product reformulation and portion control. More is needed to tackle obesity and that will require government action.”