Health researchers are warning that more than 75 percent of popular takeout and restaurant dishes are decidedly unhealthy. A study published today showed some of the nation’s favorite takeaway food items, which include pizza and burgers, contain harmful levels of fat, salt, and sugar. Health experts are calling for further efforts to make food healthier and for people to make better choices.

You may be surprised to learn that many of your takeaway favorites are not that healthy after all. A new study by experts shows that over 75 percent of the best-selling dishes from major restaurants and take-aways are really not good for your health. That includes pizza, burgers, fries, and baguettes—food most of us love eating. They often pack too much fat, salt, and sugar—things that are bad for your health when taken in excess.

Scientists used current nutritional information from 19 large “out of home” food places, analyzing data from 10 popular items at chains including Subway, McDonald’s and Starbucks. They have reached the conclusion that most of these foods are not fit to meet health standards. Anywhere from 46% to 78% of the dishes examined were considered unhealthy, according to the study—a number dependent upon the way that nutrition was measured based on three different government guidelines.

Hugely alarming” is what the findings are tagged by lead author Dr. Monique Tan. For the most part, there were healthier options available, but the choice wasn’t healthy when looking at the places’ most popular, best-selling items. According to her, this is a huge concern since people eat out more these days. Visits to these places in the UK alone reach about 2.4 billion times a year, and the food from these places makes up a large part of people’s diets.

Pizza Hut’s pepperoni feast pizza, Burger King’s Memphis BBQ king double burger, Nando’s fino pitta, Wetherspoon’s pubs halloumi-style fries, and Pret a Manger’s ham and Grevé baguette, to name a few, turn out to be some of the most unhealthy dishes analyzed. All of these have large amounts of calories, saturated fats, salt, and sugar while very little fiber, protein, fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

The findings also established that large portion sizes in some chains lead to even higher intakes of salt, sugar, fat, and calories. Some meals have more calories than the entire daily recommended amount, which is 2,000 for women and 2,500 for men. That means it’s like eating an entire day’s worth of food in just one meal!

“Interestingly, only three of the 19 companies investigated shared nutritional information about their food: Dominos, Pizza Express, and Pret a Manger. Many of the companies did not give any details of what is in their foods, which doesn’t put consumers in a good position to make healthy choices.”.

Dr. Kawther Hashem, of Action on Sugar, called this “absurd,” adding that shoppers know nutrition information for foods in the supermarket but when eating out, people are not provided with it. She says that without this information, it’s tough for people to choose healthier options.

Labour politician Wes Streeting has warned food companies to make their products healthier or face the consequences, but no such specific measures were contained Monday within Labour’s election plans.

According to UK Hospitality’s chief executive, Kate Nicholls, the study’s results are somewhat inaccurate. More than half of dishes tested could actually be classed as healthy by at least one measure, she says. It is also compulsory to have the calorie count on menus, and many restaurants give other nutritional information to allow customers to make informed choices, argues Nicholls.

The UK government has already promised to do everything in its power to help avert the emerging obesity crisis and secure better health for everyone. It is going to introduce tightened regulations concerning advertisement of bad food and impose a total ban on selling youngsters sugary and high-caffeine drinks.

Dr. Tan highlighted five dishes in his research that kept turning up as unhealthy according to various nutritional guidelines. These were Pizza Hut’s pepperoni feast, Burger King’s Memphis BBQ king double, Nando’s fino pitta, halloumi-style fries from Wetherspoon’s, and Pret a Manger’s ham and Grevé baguette—all too full of fat, salt, or sugar and not enough of the good stuff, like fiber and vitamins.

The next time that one reaches out to have some favourite takeaways, just remember that a lot of those very popular dishes are not going to make the cut of being in the healthiest choices. Knowing what one eats can make all the difference in terms of making better choices and ultimately being much healthier.