New survey reveals salt content varies across the world

23rd July 2009, 11:32am

World Action on Salt and Health (WASH) is urging food manufacturers to review their use of salt after conducting a survey on salt content in the same products from leading food manufacturers.

Chaired by professor of cardiovascular medicine Graham MacGregor, WASH has surveyed products from manufacturers around the world including Burger King, KFC, McDonald's and Subway.

Research found a discrepancy in the salt content of the same products from country to country.

For instance, a McDonald's Big Mac from Cyprus contains 2.0g of salt while in Guatemala it contains 2.7g.

A bacon double cheeseburger from Burger King in Brazil consists of 3.2g of salt whereas the same burger in the UK contains 2.1g.

KFC's original fillet burger in New Zealand has a salt content of 3.7g yet the same product in Australia contains 2.4g of salt.

For the most part the UK faired well in figures, reflecting the focus of salt and public health, but Subway's club 6 inch sandwich contains 3.7g of salt compared to 2.0g of salt in the same product in Finland.

WASH has expressed great concerns at the findings, making a plea to food manufacturers to adopt a blanket approach when using salt. 

Professor MacGregor says: "The fact that companies distribute products with so much less salt in some countries raises serious ethical concerns.

"It is very hypocritical for manufacturers to make healthy claims about their products whilst unnecessarily adding to the worldwide health inequalities.

"A gradual reduction in salt can easily be done across all products in all countries. We urge all manufacturers to make these reductions not just in a few fortunate countries, but across the world. "

 The professor is particularly worried about the wider health implications for consumers.

"Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide," he warns.

"Eating too much salt puts up our blood pressure, the major risk factor of CVD. This leads to millions needlessly suffering and dying from heart attacks, heart failure and strokes each year.

"If we reduce our salt intake by just a few grams a day, we can all reduce our risk of heart disease and stroke."

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