Study: Fast Food Less Healthy Today Than It Was 30 Years Ago

Prospective franchisees interested in purchasing a fast food franchise might want to consider the following information: A study has found that fast food has only gotten less healthy over the past 30 years, according to a Forbes report. As fast food brands continuously strive to provide creative menu offerings, these items may not exactly be wise choices for consumer waistlines.

The study was published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Researchers studied 10 popular fast food chains and specifically looked at the entrees, side dishes and desserts that were offered the years of 1986, 1991 and 2016, according to the article.

The study found that calories increased over the course of those years, as did sodium content, according to the article.

“Despite the vast number of choices offered at fast-food restaurants, some of which are healthier than others, the calories, portion sizes, and sodium content overall have worsened (increased) over time and remain high," the study’s lead investigator Megan A. McCrory, PhD said, according to the article.

Read the full report at Forbes.