A quarter of sliced meats sold in major supermarkets are saltier than seawater, a study has found.
Researchers looked at 555 prepared-to-eat meats like salami and ham, and found an “appalling” failure to achieve national salt reduction goals.
The researchers found that two-thirds were chilled slices of meat are high in salt. These chill sliced meats have 1.5g for every 100g. This score is a red according to the traffic light labelling system.
Below 1% are either low or green.
Experts from Action On Salt at Queen Mary University of London claim that one-fourth of products have saltier taste than Atlantic seawater. Atlantic has 2.5g of salt for every 100g.
These ready-to-eat meats include Spanish chorizo and Wiltshire roast pork. They are available at the country’s largest supermarkets.
Waitrose was the most prolific offender in this study, with 93% of its “own label” meat products not complying with emission targets.
Tesco was the most consistent retailer in meeting its targets, with 7 percent of their meats being too salty.
According to the researchers, failure by manufacturers to lower salt levels could cause ‘thousands’ of deaths from heart disease.
The food industry has been given targets to reduce salt in chilled meat by health officials.
Example: Sliced Ham should be able to have 1.63g of salt per 100g, and sliced Chicken 0.9g.
The NHS says adults should eat no more than 6g of salt a day – about a teaspoon – but data shows that on average adults eat 8.4g.
According to the report, some slices of meat can be so salty that a single sandwich of ham could contain as much as half of an adult’s recommended daily intake.
Researchers found that it was possible to drastically reduce the salt content of cured meats, while still maintaining their taste. They used potassium as an alternative to sodium salt.
High salt diets can increase blood pressure and lead to stroke risk.
Professor Graham MacGregor of Queen Mary University of London is a cardiacologist. He said that it was a shame companies keep adding salt to our food when we have the ability to reformulate.
The NHS says adults should eat no more than 6g of salt a day – about a teaspoon – but data shows that on average adults eat 8.4g
Action On Salt demands that ministers enforce the salt reduction targets with sanctions such as fines for those who fail to conform.
Professor Graham MacGregor of Queen Mary University of London is a cardiacologist. He said that it was a shame companies keep adding salt to our food when we have the ability to reformulate.
Waitrose claimed it had reduced salt significantly and was working hard to achieve the 2024 target.