Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) has slammed supermarkets, coffee shops and sandwich chains for selling Christmas bakery products that contain high levels of salt. 

The pressure group, which argues that salt is responsible for raising blood pressure and increasing the risk of strokes and heart disease, surveyed 87 products in seasonal ranges. These included sandwiches,
salads, pies and desserts.

The highest salt product found on the high street was the Christmas Full Works Sandwich from EAT, which contained 4.2g salt per portion, over two-thirds of the daily maximum salt intake for adults.

Other sandwiches with high salt levels included Marks & Spencer’s Three Wise Sarnies (3.07g), the Co-op Festive Triple (2.6g) and Subway Chicken and Stuffing (2.5g).

CASH was also critical of some sweet treats, pointing out that a Costa Christmas Chocolate cake had 0.94g salt per portion – the equivalent of nearly two packets of crisps.

“The huge level of salt seen in some of the products is particularly shocking when you consider that many children may be eating these products,” said Katharine Jenner, nutritionist and CASH campaign manager. “To offer new high-salt options on the menu, when the nation is trying to reduce its salt intake, is quite simply irresponsible.”