29 March 2023 , 23:01
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Three-quarters of supermarket bread contains as much or more salt in three slices than a packet of ready salted crisps, a report found.
Campaign group Action on Salt looked at 42 pre-packaged loaves from 28 firms sold at 10 of the UK’s largest stores.
The saltiest of those was Hovis White Since 1886 cob, with 1.48g per 100g of bread, around three slices, compared to 0.34g in a packet of Walkers crisps.
Two slices of Hovis Soft White Extra Thick Bread had as much salt as a McDonald’s burger and a fifth of an adult’s recommended daily maximum of 6g. The least saltiest was Waitrose Rye and Wheat Dark Sourdough, with 0.51g per 100g. Most loaves tested fell below the 2024 maximum salt target of 1.01g set by the Government in 2020.
But Action on Salt said the large variations suggested that the targets are “far too lenient”. Too much salt can increase the risk of high blood pressure and cause heart disease or strokes.
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The saltiest bread tested was Hovis White Since 1886Action on Salt is urging No10 to follow other countries by setting mandatory salt reduction targets. Chairman Graham MacGregor, a professor of cardiovascular medicine, said: “Reducing salt is the most cost-effective measure to lower blood pressure. It’s a disgrace that food companies continue to fill our food with so much unnecessary salt, as in bread.”
Hovis insisted the majority of its range is “fully compliant with salt targets”. It added: “The products Action for Salt highlighted are
cobs, which represent around 1% of all Hovis loaves sold.”