Our view

• It shouldn't be too hard for fast-food outlets to produce chips that are low in fat, low in sodium and not too high in energy. You can buy chips that fit this profile in supermarkets, and fast-food outlets are well aware of the pressure they're under to improve the nutritional quality of their products.
  
  
• According to the National Heart Foundation, Kiwis eat about seven million servings of hot chips every week - that's nearly two servings a week for each person. Making them lower in fat and salt could have a big impact on our health.
  
  
• We'd like all takeaway outlets to use healthier vegetable oil (or blends), offer small portion sizes, use thick straight chips, and refine their frying practices.
  
  
• Better cooking techniques (such as correct frying temperatures, banging and shaking the basket of chips, then hanging the basket before serving) will reduce the fat content.

Big spenders

In 2007 our fast-food industry spent more than $55 million on TV advertising. That's nearly $13 for each individual New Zealander - and it's about nine times more than was spent on TV ads for fruit and vegetables.

The sheer amount of advertising by the big chains sees them constantly on our TV screens. We surveyed the number of fast-food ads screened on TV1, TV2, TV3, Prime, SKY and C4 for one week in April. McDonald's was the biggest spender. We saw 170 ads for McDonald's (this included recruitment ads). Burger King clocked in at 162 ads and KFC 122. Pizza Hut, Wendy's, and Domino's Pizza also made an appearance.

More from consumer.org.nz

• RDI calculator
• Salt quiz
• Fat quiz

Report by Belinda Allan