Warning over 'salty' salads
Updated on 30 July 2007
Some lunchtime salads and pasta bowls ought to carry health warnings because they are so salty, a campaign group has said.
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 fries meal, according to Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash) which carried out the survey.
Cash says some salads sold in coffee shops and supermarkets should carry health warnings rather than be thought of as healthy options.
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.
An EAT Thai noodle salad had 4.4g salt per portion - 73% of an adult's recommended daily intake. A Tesco tuna and sweetcorn pasta snack had 3.7g of salt per portion, while EAT smoked mackerel superfood and McDonald's crispy chicken Caesar salad with low fat dressing both had 3.5g per portion. These were all saltier than a Big Mac and small fries which has 2.5g.
Classic salad ingredients such as leaves, tomatoes and onions are naturally low in salt. But added extras such as bacon, ham and cheese can all boost salt levels. One Morrisons tuna pasta even had salt added to the tuna, Cash found. Salad dressings contain varying amounts of salt, with some of them adding an additional gram of salt to the meal.
Cash wants dressings made far less salty and served in separate pots or sachets so people can choose whether to add them. Cash chairman Professor Graham MacGregor said many salads and pasta dishes were healthy lunchtime options. "However, our research shows that there are some salads out there which really ought to carry a health warning, rather than be thought of as a healthy option," he warned.
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