Warning as research shows wraps wallop waistlines

Some lunch wraps contain almost three-quarters of an average person's daily salt allowance and have as many as 1,000 calories, according to a new report from SafeFood.

The nutritional guidance agency commissioned a survey of takeaway wraps after separate research found that a third of Irish people believed them to be a healthy meal option.

However, results from tests carried out on 240 different wrap samples nationwide showed some contain as many calories as a 12-inch cheese and tomato pizza.

The survey also found large disparities in portion sizes from different food outlets, and some wraps were two-and-a-half times larger than the smallest recorded samples.

There were huge variations in fat and calorie content noted in chicken tikka and chicken salad wraps in particular, with total fat ranging between 5g and 59g, while there could be anywhere between 267 and 977 calories in a single wrap.

The guideline daily amount of calories for the average individual is 2,000, and people are typically recommended to consume no more than 90g of sugar, 70g of fat and 6g of salt.

The three most popular varieties of wrap were chicken and salad, chicken tikka and salad and chicken caesar salad, and the latter option on average contained 72 per cent of a person’s guideline daily allowance for salt.

SafeFood's chief specialist in nutrition Dr Marian Faughnan said the findings illustrated the need for people to ensure their dining choices really are as healthy as may be presumed.

“We know from research that 1 in 3 people believe wraps to be a healthier choice than a lunchtime sandwich but in reality, the average tortilla wrap on its own contains 149 calories, almost the same as two slices of bread which contains 158 calories,” she said.

“Our report shows that eating a large chicken tikka wrap with a soft drink and a bag of crisps could mean almost 1,400 calories are eaten just at lunchtime alone.

“The advice for consumers is the same whether they’re ordering a wrap or sandwich – if you want a healthier option, choose a smaller portion size and go for grilled chicken instead of coated/deep-fried varieties,” she added.

SafeFood is also encouraging consumers to cut back on salty meats and sauces, add more vegetables and use wholegrain wraps and breads for added fibre.

The food outlets surveyed by SafeFood as part of their latest round of research included coffee shops, cafés, takeaways, sandwich shops and delicatessens.