The out-of-home (OOH) sector – restaurants, cafes, takeaways and any other places where food is bought and consumed away from home – is a key component of our food environment and, on average, contributes around 340 calories per person per day to our diet. This research, conducted in partnership with and funded by Food Standards Scotland, is a study of the nutritional content of popular out-of-home foods from small, independent businesses in Scotland. We lab-tested 158 samples across 14 food items in Glasgow and Edinburgh, aiming to fill data gaps on calorie and nutrient content of these foods.

Key findings revealed high levels of calories, fat, saturated fat, total sugars, and salt, with low fibre content in many samples. Moreover, many of the items tested are classed as discretionary foods and are usually eaten out with a main meal, potentially contributing significantly to excess calorie intake.

Our research found the average doner kebab contained 1283 calories, which is 64% of the recommended daily amount for an adult woman, and 50% more saturated fat than the recommended daily limit. Several products tested also exceeded the daily dietary recommendations for adults and children in a single portion, for example, one macaroni cheese sample had 421% of the daily saturated fat recommendation. Findings for children's meals were also a concern, often containing high levels of saturated fat.

The study highlighted significant variations in portion sizes and nutritional content for the same item across different businesses, suggesting that healthier versions of our favourite foods are not only feasible but also can still be enjoyable. Overall, these findings support the view that continued work to support businesses, promote reformulation and establish an impactful and feasible policy solution for the SME OOH sector is necessary to improve the nutritional quality of OOH food in Scotland and ensure healthier food environments for us all.