Fries or a fruit bag? Investigating the nutritional composition of fast food children’s meals

The impact of children’s fast food meals on their daily nutritional requirements has not been assessed in Australia. Analysis of the nutritional composition of children’s meals from six fast food chains was conducted. The energy, saturated fat, sugar and sodium content of all children’s meals from the chains were assessed against the fast food industry-defined nutrient criteria for healthy meals and children’s recommended daily nutritional requirements, as defined by the Nutrient Reference Values and the Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia. Overall children’s fast food meals are high in saturated fat, sugar and sodium. Only 16% and 22% of meals met the industry’s nutrient criteria for children aged 4–8 and 9–13 years, respectively. Seventy-two percent of fast food meals exceeded 30% of the daily energy recommendations for 4 year old children, and 90% of meals exceeded 30% of the upper limit for sodium for children aged 4–8. Some meals also exceeded the upper limit for sodium and daily saturated fat recommendations for children aged 4–8 years. Reformulation of children’s meals to improve their nutritional composition and revision of the industry’s nutrient criteria to align with children’s dietary requirements are urgently needed.

► Nutritional composition of Australian children’s fast food meals were analysed.
► Meals were compared to industry nutrient criteria and children’s nutrient recommendations.
► Only 16–22% of meals met the industry nutrient criteria.
► Most exceeded 30% of recommendations for energy, saturated fat, sodium and sugar.
► Review of the industry criteria and reformulation of children’s meals are required.