Hidden Salt Found in Popular Store-Cupboard Staples

A recent analysis by consumer group Which? has identified surprisingly high levels of salt in many common household food items, including popular condiments, hot chocolate, and pesto. The findings highlight how frequently salt can be overlooked in foods that may not be perceived as salty.

According to the analysis, Blue Dragon Original Sweet Chilli Sauce contains 4.3g of salt per 100g, with a typical 30-45g serving providing 1.29g to 1.94g of salt. This is more than the salt content of two rashers of bacon. Similarly, Barilla Genovese Basil Pesto was found to have 3.25g of salt per 100g, meaning a 50g serving contains 1.63g of salt, equivalent to over three packs of crisps.

Even items marketed as healthier options were found to be high in sodium. Protein bars from Chia Charge, for example, contained as much salt as three handfuls of salted peanuts. Lentil chips, often chosen as a lower-calorie alternative to potato crisps, were found to have double the salt content of regular crisps.

The Which? investigation examined eight categories: sweet chilli sauce, pesto, hot chocolate, lentil and healthy snacks, nut butters, houmous, protein bars, and cottage cheese. More than half of the 47 products analyzed were flagged for high salt levels.

Under the UK's traffic light labeling system, foods containing more than 1.5g of salt per 100g are classified as high. The recommended daily salt intake for adults is 6g, but average consumption in England is around 8.4g.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a significant public health concern in Britain, affecting over a third of the population. Salt intake is a known risk factor, as it can cause the body to retain water, increasing blood volume and putting extra pressure on blood vessel walls, which can lead to heart attack and stroke.

Among the other notable findings were Sabra Classic Houmous with 1.3g of salt per 100g and The Estate Dairy Cottage Cheese with 0.9g per 100g. Options Instant Belgian Mint Chocolate was found to contain 2.8g of salt per 100g.

Shefalee Loth, a nutritionist at Which?, advised consumers to check the salt content per 100g and be mindful of portion sizes. "Salt can be surprisingly easy to overlook, particularly in foods we might think of as being healthy," she stated, emphasizing that awareness and informed choices can help manage salt intake.

Which? also identified lower-salt alternatives in each category. For instance, pure cocoa powder or 70% dark chocolate melted into milk is a lower-salt option for hot chocolate. Whole Earth 100% Nuts and Meridian Smooth Almond Butter were found to contain 0g of salt. For cottage cheese, Creamfields Low Fat Cottage Cheese had 0.38g of salt per 100g, significantly lower than some other options.