Hungry Horse’s tandoori vegetable masala was found to be the main meal containing the most sugar at 52g, equivalent to almost 13 teaspoons, or 58% of an adult’s recommended intake of total sugar.

The survey also found that eight of the chains couldn’t provide any information on how much sugar was in their meals, including Bella Italia and Byron.

‘Healthy’ options, including a BBQ chicken salad at Beefeater contained 38.1g of sugar, more than a can of Coca-Cola and a leggera pollo arrabbiata pasta dish from PizzaExpress’ low calorie range contained 25.1g of sugar, but the chain claimed 96% of that was naturally occurring.

Children’s meals, including a chicken curry and rice from Hungry Horse contained 27g of sugar; and a chicken breast wrap from Wetherspoon’s contained 17.5g.

The survey was conducted by consumer health group Ask the Q. Founder Anya Hart Dyke told the Sunday Times: “I’m shocked that main meals, even the healthy-sounding ones, contain as much sugar ads they do.”

The recommended maximum intake of sugar for an adult is 90g, including naturally occurring sugars, whereas the limit for added sugar has been reduced to 30g. Children should consume no more than 24g of added sugar a day.