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Find out why some lunchtime snacks should carry a health warning
Some lunchtime salads and pasta bowls ought to carry health warnings because they are so salty, a campaign group said today.
A number of supposedly healthy products had more hidden salt than a burger and fries, a survey found.
One noodle salad had 4.4g of salt in a single portion - 73% of an adult's recommended daily salt limit. Some McDonald's salads were saltier than their Big Mac and small French fries meal, according to Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash) which did the
survey.
Cash says some salads sold in coffee shops and supermarkets should carry health warnings rather than be thought of as healthy options.
Health risks
Eating too much salt can raise blood pressure which in turn increases the risk of strokes and heart disease, according to the Food Standards Agency.
The food watchdog says adults should eat no more than 6g of salt per day. But the Cash survey of 156 ready-made salads and pasta bowls bought from high street outlets found 19% contained more than one third of the 6g daily limit.
Cash wants dressings made far less salty and served in separate pots or sachets so people can choose whether to add them.
These are the saltiest lunchtime salads and pasta bowls surveyed by Cash. Salt content is shown as grams per portion and as percentage of the recommended adult daily intake.
1. EAT Thai noodle, 4.4g, 73%
2. Tesco tuna and sweetcorn pasta snack, 3.7g, 62%
3. EAT smoked mackerel superfood, 3.5g, 58%
4 McDonald's crispy chicken Caesar salad with low fat Caesar dressing, 3.5g, 58%
5. McDonald's grilled chicken Caesar salad with low fat Caesar dressing, 3.3g, 55%
6. EAT spicy chicken noodles, 3.0g, 50%
7. Morrisons chicken and bacon pasta, 3.0g, 50%
8. Morrisons tuna pasta, 3.0g, 50%
9. Somerfield cheese and tomato pasta snack, 3.0g, 50%
10. Somerfield chicken and bacon pasta snack, 3.0g, 50%
