Watchdog reveals shocking fat, salt and sugar levels in beloved Scottish takeaway favourites
A food safety watchdog has issued a stark warning after uncovering “alarming” levels of fat, salt, sugar and calories in some of Scotland’s most cherished takeaway meals.
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) analysed 158 popular dishes sold across independent outlets, including doner kebabs, battered pizzas—often called pizza crunch—macaroni cheese and millionaire shortbread. The findings, officials say, should raise serious public health concerns.
One of the most shocking discoveries was a macaroni cheese dish containing 101g of saturated fat, which is 421% of the daily recommended maximum for an adult. That’s four times the safe limit—in a single portion.
Equally troubling was the average battered pizza, clocking in at 1,327 calories, or 66% of the daily limit for an adult woman, and more than double the recommended daily salt intake. Doner kebabs fared no better. One portion was found to contain 1,283 calories, 86g of fat and 7.7g of salt—28% over the daily salt limit and 10% over the fat limit.
Children weren’t spared. A single kids’ cheeseburger and chips meal packed 982 calories, 20.9g of saturated fat, and 3.4g of salt—nearly 98% of the recommended saturated fat intake for a child aged 7 to 10, and 68% of their salt allowance.
“This goes far beyond occasional indulgence,” said Laura Wilson, Head of Public Health Nutrition at FSS. “These portion sizes and nutrient levels are setting the stage for lifelong health issues.”
FSS officials said the research, conducted in partnership with Nesta, was not aimed at vilifying takeaways, but rather exposing dangerous norms that have quietly embedded themselves in the national diet.
Embed from Getty Images“There’s a growing concern that in our most deprived communities—where takeaways are often most accessible—obesity and type 2 diabetes are spiralling,” Wilson said.
The variation in portion size was also “striking.” The calorie count for macaroni cheese ranged from 296 kcal to 2,107 kcal, depending on the outlet. That’s a sevenfold difference in energy for what should be a standard dish.
Sweets weren’t exempt. One slice of millionaire shortbread had 34.1g of sugar, making it a “significant contributor” to excess sugar intake. A cheesecake portion carried nearly 500 calories, while vegetarian burgers with chips landed at 1,124 calories—over 56% of a daily adult limit.
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto called the report a wake-up call. “We are restricting the promotion of foods high in fat, salt and sugar that are most likely to contribute to childhood obesity,” she said. “This is vital if we’re serious about halving child obesity by 2030.”
FSS and Nesta also found positive signs. A few businesses had started offering healthier versions of classic dishes, proving that improvement is both possible and commercially viable.
Frances Bain, Nesta’s A Healthy Life Mission Manager, urged more outlets to follow suit. “Small changes—like modest portion reductions or healthier ingredient swaps—can have a real impact. It’s not about making food joyless. It’s about protecting people’s health while preserving enjoyment.”
Despite these efforts, the watchdog warned that five out of six meal types sampled exceeded 50% of daily calorie limits, and 11 out of 14 topped 600 calories per portion—the NHS guideline for a balanced meal.
As Scotland wrestles with some of Europe’s worst diet-related health outcomes, the message is clear: unchecked indulgence in calorie-heavy takeaways is taking a heavy toll.
