Shocking levels of salt in children's restaurant meals

High street dishes contain more than daily recommended dose

- Hanna Geissler

CHILDREN'S meals at popular restaurants such as Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Prezzo and Bella Italia can contain more than a day's recommended salt intake, a report claims.

Youngsters aged between four and six should eat no more than 3g of salt per day, according to the NHS.

But a review of 503 main meals at 29 eateries by campaign group Action on Salt found many dishes exceeded this. Gourmet Burger Kitchen was reported to have the highest overall salt content in its children's meals, averaging 3.06g per dish.

Professor Graham MacGregor, an expert in cardiovascular medicine and chair of Action on Salt, warned too much in early life could lead to high blood pressure later.