Fast Food Kids' Meals Contain Dangerously High Levels Of Salt

Although fast food companies like McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's are trying to make their kids' meals more nutritionally sound (by taking soda off the menu, for instance, or offering apple slices instead of fries), they still have a long way to go.According to the World Action on Salt and Health (WASH) committee, eight out of 10 international fast food meals tested contained more than one gram of salt — an unhealthy amount for a young child.

According to the study, which analyzed salt content in 37 countries, the amount of salt in kids' meals also varied widely all over the world. Surprisingly, the United States was one of the least offensive, with on average a little more than one gram of salt found in American Chicken McNuggets, 1.4 grams in China, and a whopping 2.4 grams of salt in Turkey. To put that in perspective, the CDC recommends that young children consume no more than 2.3 grams per day.

"The more salt you eat as a child, the more likely you are to have serious health issues in later life," said WASH chairman Graham MacGregor, told CNN Money. "That is why it is vitally important that children do not get used to the taste of salt."