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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Jan 26.
Published in final edited form as: Appetite. 2017 Feb 21;113:155–161. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2017.02.028

Table 2.

Characteristics of meals* purchased at fast food restaurant chains in four cities in New England in 2013 and 2014 by adults and adolescents included in study of consumers’ estimates of sodium content of meals. Figures are numbers (percentage) unless stated otherwise.

Adults (n=593) Adolescents (n=473)
Sodium content of meals:
Mean (SD; range) actual content in mg 1292 (970; 0, 4970) 1128 (891; 0, 4435)
Median (IQR) actual content in mg 1220 (550, 1800) 990 (340, 1725)
Mean (SD; range) estimated content in mg 279 (572; 0, 5000) 261(582; 0, 5000)
Median (IQR) estimated content in mg 50 (12, 300) 50 (15, 250)
Difference between estimated and actual sodium content:
Mean in mg (SD, range) −1013 (1055; −4880, 3400) −876 (1021; −3835, 4200)
Median in mg (IQR) −940 (−1580, −190) −805; −1480, −144)
Calorie content of meals:
Mean (SD; range) actual content 754 (451; 0, 2540) 723 (438;0, 2320)
Median (IQR) actual content 680 (390, 1070) 660 (360, 1030)
Mean (SD; range) estimated content 639 (674; 0, 5000) 527 (554; 0, 5000)
Median (IQR) estimated content 500 (250, 800) 400 (200, 700)
Difference between estimated and actual calorie content:
Mean (SD; range) −114 (707; −2460, 4680) −196 (583; −1750, 4060)
Median (IQR) −140 (−460, 60) −190 (−500, 0)
Mean (SD) difference between estimated and actual sodium content by restaurant:
McDonald’s −720 (827) −611 (942)
Burger King −1009 (1099) −1367 (973)
Subway −1413 (1079) −1389 (1330)
KFC −1499 (1206) --
Wendy’s −789 (1011) −1257 (841)
Dunkin’ Donuts -- −373 (529)
*

Meals defined as all purchased items intended for individual consumption.