How a slice of bread can be as salty as a pack of CRISPS trends now

How a slice of bread can be as salty as a pack of CRISPS trends now
How a slice of bread can be as salty as a pack of CRISPS trends now

How a slice of bread can be as salty as a pack of CRISPS trends now

The nation's daily bread could be putting health at risk with just one slice of many popular brands containing as much salt as a pack of ready salted crisps.

The details come from health campaigners who say high consumption of salt - often through processed foods - is fuelling high blood pressure, strokes and other illnesses.

Action on Salt says many big brands and supermarkets are failing to deliver on promises to make significant salt reductions in bread and other products.

The group, which surveyed 242 pre-packaged loaves of sliced bread, found three in four contained as much salt or more per slice than the 0.34g found in a packet of ready salted crisps.

Five products contain 0.9g or more salt in a typical serving of two slices, which works out at a higher amount than the 0.88g found in two small portions of fries from McDonald's.

The group, which surveyed 242 pre-packaged loaves of sliced bread, found three in four contained as much salt or more per slice than the 0.34g found in a packet of ready salted crisps

The group, which surveyed 242 pre-packaged loaves of sliced bread, found three in four contained as much salt or more per slice than the 0.34g found in a packet of ready salted crisps

Public Health England has set voluntary salt reduction targets for the 'Bread and Rolls' category, which are set at a maximum of 0.85g per 100g (average across product type) and 1.01g per 100g for an individual product. The target date for achieving this is 2024.

Several products in the survey came in at higher than this, including Hovis White with Starter Dough, containing 1.48g of salt per 100g. At the same time, Hovis Granary came in at 1.28g, Hovis Seeded Bread at 1.24g, and Hovis Thick White at 1.2g.

The Polish Bakery Baltonowski Premium Bread, Chleb Baltonowski, scored 1.3g, while Schneider Brot Whole Grain Rye Bread had 1.15g of salt per 100g of bread.

Two from M&S, its Thick White Super Soft Loaf and The Bakery Soft Golden Wholemeal Farmhouse, came in at 1.03g.

Action on Salt is urging Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to follow other countries around the world by setting mandatory salt reduction targets rather than relying on voluntary efforts and promises from manufacturers.

HOW MUCH SALT SHOULD I EAT? 

Eating too much salt can increase blood pressure and the risk of heart disease and stroke. 

Adults should eat a maximum of 6g of salt per day.

Between 75 and 80 per cent of the salt people eat is in processed and convenience foods, such as sauces and meat. 

For every gram of salt cut from Britons' average daily intake, there would be 6,000 fewer deaths from strokes and heart attacks per year. 

Most labels now give the amount of salt contained in food per portion.

Foods are considered to be low salt and have a green label if they contain less than 0.3g per 100g. 

Products with medium salt levels have less than 1.5g per 100g, which is indicated through an amber label. 

And products with high amounts of salt have a red label, meaning they contain 1.5g per 100g or 1.8g per portion.

Advertisement

Graham MacGregor, professor of cardiovascular medicine at Queen Mary University of London and Action on Salt chairman, said: 'Reducing salt is the most cost-effective measure to lower blood pressure and reduce the number of people dying and suffering from strokes and heart disease.

'It's therefore a disgrace that food companies continue to fill our food with so much unnecessary salt, as shown here in bread. 

'For too long the food industry have been in charge of public health, at our expense; it's time for the Government to stop

read more from dailymail.....

PREV Schoolboy, 7, is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour which kills most ... trends now
NEXT Health service initiative offers patients a chance to see a GP on the same day ... trends now