Some crumpets contain more salt than three packets of crisps

December 21, 2016

48% of crumpets were above the Government target of 1.13g of salt per 100g
Gluten-free products were also high in salt content, the study found
Too much salt is linked to high blood preasure, strokes and premature death

Sean Poulter Consumer Affairs Editor For The Daily Mail

Published:
19:25 EST, 20 December 2016

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Updated:
02:57 EST, 21 December 2016

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High levels of salt are making crumpets a hidden health risk, campaigners say.

Research found that some crumpets have even more salt than three packets of ready-salted crisps.

Eating too much salt every day over a long period is linked to high blood pressure, strokes and premature death.

The average salt content per crumpet was 0.67g, which is equivalent to one-and-a-half packs of ready-salted crisps.

Research found that some crumpets have even more salt than three packets of ready-salted crisps

Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) surveyed 27 big-selling crumpets and found many were well over health targets for next year.

The Government says it wants salt content to be reduced to no more than 1.13g per 100g, which is the same target as sausages. But 48 per cent of those CASH surveyed were above this level.

Katharine Jenner, of CASH, said: ‘Salt reduction has been recognised as a public health priority for a number of years, so responsible manufacturers know they should be reducing salt in their foods. It’s shocking that certain brands of crumpets still contain more salt than three bags of ready-salted crisps.

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‘It’s imperative that retailers, food manufacturers and the out-of-home catering sector work much harder to help us achieve the public health goal of consuming no more than 6g of salt per person per day.’

Warburtons was the worst offender – its Giant Crumpets have 1.55g of salt each, or 1.48g per 100g, which is more than three packets of ready-salted.

That is around double the level found in Waitrose Deep and Delicious Buttermilk Crumpets and Essential Waitrose Crumpets. The study found that, in general, salt levels in branded crumpets were much higher than supermarket own-label versions.

Healthy gluten-free products also tended to be higher in salt. For example, Marks and Spencer Made Without Wheat Gluten-Free Crumpets had 1.4g of salt per 100g.

CASH said firms should use different raising agents to cut levels of salt.

The group’s chairman Graham MacGregor, professor of cardiovascular medicine at Queen Mary, University of London, said: ‘Reducing salt is the most cost-effective measure to lower blood pressure and reduce the number of people suffering from strokes and heart disease.’

Warburtons said it has cut salt in its products by 25 per cent in recent years. Marks Spencer said it had ‘led the way’ on salt reduction and would continue to review products.