 News
28th January 2008
Hidden salt
putting children at riskChildren are being put at risk of suffering
high blood pressure and strokes in later life by the hidden salt content of many
popular foods. Some brands of baked beans, sausages, breaded chicken and
noodles have been labelled potential health hazards. Some desserts also
contain alarmingly high levels of salt. Certain products contain virtually
the entire daily limit for salt for a six-year-old in a single serving, according
to research published today by campaign group Consensus Action on Salt and Health.
The Department of Health recommends an upper limit of 5g of salt per day
for a child aged seven to ten, 3g for those aged four to six and just 2g for those
aged one to three. A portion of Morrisons Southern Fried chicken - one
drumstick and one thigh - contains 2.8g of salt, 93 per cent of the maximum amount
for a six-year-old for an entire day, as does half a can of the supermarket's
own label baked beans. Three Marks & Spencer potato croquettes contain 1.9g
of salt, while just two slices of Kingsmill Great Everyday thick white bread contain
1.06g. Sweet products with high salt levels include Asda's Roly Poly Pudding,
which has 1.1g of salt per serving, and Tesco's Banana Flavour Delight with 1g.
Cash chairman Graham MacGregor, professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at
St George's Hospital in South London, said: "Research just last year showed that
children who eat higher salt diets have higher blood pressure. "It's not
just heart attacks and strokes that are caused by a high salt diet. "Too
much salt is also linked with stomach cancer and osteoporosis and can aggravate
the symptoms of asthma." Professor MacGregor added: "If manufacturers really
cannot reduce the salt content in food eaten by children to reasonable levels,
perhaps they should consider ceasing production." Julian Hunt, communications-director
at the Food & Drink Federation, said, however: "In the last 12 months alone, industry's
reformulation efforts in five important food categories have helped reduce the
amount of salt being bought by consumers by a staggering 2,000 tonnes." The
Salt Association, which speaks for producers, said: "Salt is essential for life
and for good health." Salt cellars should be ditched from the dinner table
in a bid to improve health, says a cancer expert. Recommending families
use pepper instead, Professor Martin Wiseman of the World Cancer Research Fund
said: "Because salt is added by food manufacturers, there is too much of it in
our food before it even reaches our dinner table. "By adding extra salt
to a meal, you are only making things worse." It follows an attempt last
week by Rochdale Council to reduce salt intake by issuing salt shakers with fewer
holes to local fish and chip shops. Where to next?
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