KFC has been ranked the most nutritionally balanced fast food chain in the UK, outperforming several higher priced competitors including Pret a Manger, according to a new analysis of nearly 2,000 menu items.
The study examined 1,898 items from nine major UK fast food chains and was conducted by branding agency Branding by Garden. KFC achieved the highest overall score at 81.11 out of 100, while Pret a Manger placed sixth with 70.60 despite its premium positioning.
Greggs ranked fourth with a score of 73.14, outperforming Pret a Manger. Pizza Hut placed last at 66.96.
Overall chain rankings
- KFC: 81.11
- Nando’s: 77.80
- Subway: 77.75
- Greggs: 73.14
- Domino’s: 72.65
- McDonald’s: 71.26
- Pret a Manger: 70.60
- Burger King: 68.80
- Pizza Hut: 66.96
Several individual items scored near perfectly. Subway’s 6 inch Breakfast Flatbread with Egg and Cheese achieved a score of 100 out of 100, providing 557 calories with balanced macronutrients. Pret a Manger’s Avocado and Falafel Flat Bread Wrap scored 99.45, while Greggs’ Feta and Tomato Pasta scored 99.17 and costs £3.90.
Other high scoring items included McDonald’s Chicken Legend with BBQ Sauce at 98.61 and Burger King’s Vegan Bean Burger at 98.02, indicating that both traditional and plant based fast food options can achieve strong nutritional balance.
Lower scoring items were largely desserts and sweet drinks. Burger King’s flavoured latte scored 32.90, the lowest in the entire analysis, while Pizza Hut’s Hot Cookie Dough with Salted Caramel scored 33.85. Ice cream items typically fell between 35 and 40 points.
Desserts accounted for 15 of the bottom 20 items, performing poorly across sugar content, saturated fat, protein, and overall nutritional balance.
The study also found mixed results for vegetarian and vegan items. While Burger King’s Vegan Bean Burger scored highly, several salads and wraps marketed as healthy options performed less well, suggesting that plant based labelling alone does not guarantee superior nutrition.
Pricing analysis showed that lower cost chains often provided better nutritional value. Greggs’ Simply Creamy Oats Porridge costs £1.45 and scored 98.47 out of 100, outperforming several more expensive breakfast options. The chain’s pasta dishes also scored highly while remaining under £4.
Best value breakfast items over 300 calories.
- Greggs Simply Creamy Oats Porridge: £1.45, score 98.47, 210 kcal.
- Subway Turkey Sausage Wrap: score 97.21, 332 kcal.
- Greggs Omelette Breakfast Baguette: £3.20, score 95.00, 517 kcal.
Best value main meals
- Greggs Feta and Tomato Pasta, £3.90, score 99.17, 380 kcal.
- Greggs Spicy Mexican Chicken Pasta, score 98.14, 440 kcal.
- Subway 6 inch Breakfast Flatbread with Egg and Cheese, score 100, 557 kcal.
Joseph Hedges, CEO and creative director of Branding by Garden, said, “This exposes a pretty big problem. Chains use ‘premium’ branding and higher prices to create a health halo that doesn’t exist, at least not when we refer to this data. KFC ranked top in this study due to their varied menu, yet somehow is still seen as an unhealthy option. This goes to show the true power of branding and how hard it is for brands to change public perception.
“For families in the cost of living crisis, this matters enormously. Parents are told to pay more for ‘better’ food, when Greggs’ porridge at £1.45 scores better than items costing three times as much at premium chains. That’s not just misleading, it’s a socioeconomic equity issue. The families who can least afford to overpay are being exploited.
“Even more concerning is that some beverages, marketed as everyday treats, score worse than desserts. A Burger King flavoured latte scores 32.90, lower than most chocolate brownies. Yet there’s no clear labelling to help consumers understand this. British families deserve transparency about what they’re actually getting for their money, especially when every pound counts.”