{"id":248042,"date":"2025-07-08T13:02:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T13:02:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/248042\/"},"modified":"2025-07-08T13:02:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T13:02:10","slug":"pizza-crunch-kebabs-and-mac-and-cheese-alarming-findings-in-scotlands-takeaways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/248042\/","title":{"rendered":"Pizza crunch, kebabs and mac and cheese: ‘Alarming’ findings in Scotland’s takeaways"},"content":{"rendered":"

An investigation into some of Scotland\u2019s favourite takeaway dishes has presented \u201calarming\u201d findings, according to the country\u2019s food health watchdog.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Food Standards Scotland analysed 158 meals from independent outlets, including kebabs, battered pizzas (also known as pizza crunch), macaroni and cheese, and millionaire shortbread.<\/p>\n

Beyond excessive calorie levels, the results revealed consistently high levels of saturated fat and salt, alongside a lack of dietary fibre in many popular dishes.<\/p>\n

One mac and cheese meal sampled contained 101g of saturated fat \u2013 421% of the recommended daily maximum.<\/p>\n

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) wants the Scottish Government to take stronger, long-term action to improve the nation\u2019s diet.<\/p>\n

It comes after health experts warned Scotland continues to suffer some of Europe\u2019s worst diet-related outcomes, with obesity and type 2 diabetes on the rise \u2014 particularly in deprived communities.<\/p>\n

The average doner kebab was found to contain 1283 calories \u2013 64% of the recommended daily amount for an adult female.<\/p>\n

How many calories are in your takeaway?<\/p>\n\nFood<\/strong><\/td>\nMedian calories<\/strong> (kcal)<\/td>\n% of maximum daily dietary recommendations <\/strong>(2,000 kcal adult female)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nDoner kebab with accompaniments (salad, sauce, pitta)<\/td>\n1,283<\/td>\n64.2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nVegetarian burger (meat alternative) and chips<\/td>\n1,124<\/td>\n56.2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nMacaroni cheese<\/td>\n681<\/td>\n34.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nBattered haggis supper (including chips)<\/td>\n1,311<\/td>\n65.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nBattered sausage supper (including chips)<\/td>\n1,278<\/td>\n63.9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nBattered pizza<\/td>\n1,327<\/td>\n66.4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nVegetable pakora<\/td>\n767<\/td>\n38.3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nChips and cheese<\/td>\n731<\/td>\n36.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nPortion of chips<\/td>\n682<\/td>\n34.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSweet muffin<\/td>\n423<\/td>\n21.2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nCheesecake<\/td>\n497<\/td>\n24.8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nMillionaires shortbread<\/td>\n590<\/td>\n29.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

The kebabs also contained 50% more saturated fat than the recommended daily limit.<\/p>\n

The average portion of battered pizza came in at 1,327 calories \u2013 66% of the daily recommended intake \u2013 and contained more than double the maximum recommended daily salt.<\/p>\n

The average slice of millionaire shortbread contained 34.1g of sugar, described as a \u201csignificant contributor\u201d to excess sugar intake.<\/p>\n

FFS said regularly exceeding daily recommendations for calories, saturated fat and salt can lead to weight gain, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.<\/p>\n

Focusing on children\u2019s diets, on average, a kids\u2019 portion of cheeseburger and chips contained 982 calories, 20.9g of saturated fat, and 3.4g of salt.<\/p>\n

\"Boy <\/a><\/p>\n

That equates to nearly 58% of the recommended daily calorie intake for a seven-to-ten-year-old, 98% of the maximum daily saturated fat, and 68% of the recommended salt limit.<\/p>\n

A \u201cstriking variation\u201d was found in portion size and nutritional content of the same meal across different outlets, with the calorie content of macaroni cheese ranging from 296 kcal to 2,107 kcal.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not here to discourage anyone from enjoying a takeaway \u2014 we understand it\u2019s enjoyed by many and here to stay,\u201d said Laura Wilson, head of public health nutrition at FSS.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Government policy needs to be more ambitious in tackling the widening health inequalities and meet Scotland\u2019s ambition to halve childhood obesity by 2030.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are straightforward steps that food outlets and the wider industry can take to reduce overall calorie content and enhance the nutritional quality of their offerings.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaking a modest reduction in portion size has the potential to reduce calories, reduce food waste and increase profitability if prices are retained, and support health whilst doing so.\u201d<\/p>\n

The research was carried out by FFS and Nesta, the UK\u2019s innovation agency for social good.<\/p>\n

The investigation found that some businesses had successfully produced and sold \u201cslightly healthier\u201d versions of popular \u201con the go\u201d foods.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese small changes can be beneficial to our health and we need to do more to encourage and support businesses to improve the nutritional content and reduce the calories in these meals, whilst still ensuring that our food remains enjoyable,\u201d said Frances Bain, manager for Nesta\u2019s A Healthy Life Mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cFive of the six meal types sampled contained over 50% of the maximum dietary recommendation for calories per day.<\/p>\n

\u201c11 out of the 14 food types sampled contained an average of over 600 calories, which is the suggested total amount for a meal.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.<\/p>\n

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