Considering Trends in Sodium, Trans Fat, and Saturated Fat as Key Metrics of Cardiometobolic Risk Reduction

The 2 articles by Urban and colleagues published this week in Preventing Chronic Disease report 15-year trends in sodium, trans fat, and saturated fat, 3 food components associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease and obesity, in frequently ordered meal items (French fries, cheeseburgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, and regular cola) from leading US national fast food chain restaurants (1,2). These longitudinal findings track these 3 food components in foods that are frequently consumed by Americans. In recent surveys, almost half of Americans report eating fast food at least weekly (http://www.gallup.com/poll/163868/fast-food-major-part-diet.aspx), and similarly, nearly half report drinking soda daily (http://www.gallup.com/poll/156116/Nearly-Half-Americans-Drink-Soda-Daily.aspx). The findings by Urban et al confirm a substantial reduction in the content of trans fat and saturated fat in French fries but not in cheeseburgers or chicken sandwiches. Changes were inconsistent in sodium, saturated fat, and calories among food products, with the exception of sodas, where there was an increase in portion size. The authors conclude that, unlike the reduction observed in artificial trans fat in French fries, the content of sodium, saturated fat, and calories in the selected foods did not change much. Taken together, these findings indicate that little improvement has been made in the quality or energy density of popular fast food products and suggest the need for interventions to improve population health.