AN obesity expert has called for the Irish government to put a cap on the number of Subway outlets allowed to open in the country. The sandwich chain plans to launch 119 new stores in the republic within the next two years.

Donal O’Shea, a consultant endocrinologist and director of the Weight Management Clinic at St Columcille’s Hospital in Loughlinstown, claims many of Subway’s products are too high in calories and this should be of concern to ministers as Irish obesity rates rise.

“We don’t need that level of new Subways,” O’Shea said. “In fact, I would be in favour of putting a cap on the number allowed to open here. There is a clear link between the number of outlets that [chains] like Subway have and obesity levels around the world.”

The consultant said some people consume more than half their recommended daily food intake when eating “foot-long Subs”. Subway’s own figures show at least two of the sandwiches it sells in Ireland have more than 1,100 calories each. A foot-long Chicken & Bacon Ranch has 1,160 calories while the Meatball Marinara, which is the same size, has 1,120.

“The daily calorie intake for most people is supposed to be 2,000 calories,” said O’Shea. “Customers need to be aware of this.”

Subway’s expansion in Ireland, which will create 1,300 jobs, has been welcomed by Mary Coughlan, the minister for enterprise, who said she was “particularly pleased” by the news. The chain already claims more Irish stores than McDonald’s. Internationally, Subway has more than 30,000 outlets in 87 countries.

It has recently been criticised for marketing its products as healthy options and has been accused of omitting important details in the nutritional information it provides, such as recommended daily allowances (RDAs). It has also been criticised for concentrating on the fat levels in its products, which is not the only factor customers need to be aware of.

The high levels of salt in some of the store’s products have also been criticised. A recent Channel 4 documentary analysed a foot-long Meatball Marinara and found it contained 9.4g of salt, the equivalent of 18 packets of salted crisps, or 20% more than an adult should eat in a day. Some sandwiches in Irish stores contain 50% of the RDA for salt.

Matt McKenna, a spokesman for Subway, insisted its customers were “aware of calorie content at all times”. He said customers can choose healthier options. “We offer both low-fat subs, and subs that are indulgent and higher in fat. Customers are aware of what they are eating at all times and we are committed to ensuring they are provided with the necessary information.”

McKenna said the chain is committed to reducing salt levels by 15% by next June and is planning further reductions after that. He pointed out that customers can opt for six-inch sandwiches.

Mary Wallace, the health promotion minister, said there was no legal basis for the state to put a cap on fast-food outlets such as Subway. She added it would be inappropriate to comment on the expansion plans of a particular chain.

“I would like to remind people of the importance of consuming a healthy, balanced diet, and of reducing their consumption of foods high in salt, sugar and fats,” she said.

Recent Irish research has confirmed an increase in obesity levels. A report by University College Cork’s department of epidemiology and public health found that 25% of adults are obese and 71% exceed recommended levels of daily salt intake. Ivan Perry, the professor who led the research team, said governments are slow to introduce tough measures on convenience-food outlets.

“There is a powerful food lobby in Ireland which is fearful of losing profit. These vested-interest groups get their way most of the time,” Perry said. “The government is locked into the ideology of personal choice. They say that with health, let the free market work. But health is a long-term thing so it cannot be left to the market.”

“In time, this food will be less available,” he said. “Continued expansion of convenience stores such as Subway is inevitably going to lead to extremely high levels of youth obesity, resulting in deaths of young people. The industry and lobby groups will eventually have to take note and the government will have to act.”