Shock study reveals popular UK sandwich contains more salt than five cheeseburgers

A new study has found that many of the most popular shop-bought sandwiches in the UK contain “alarmingly high” levels of salt, with one particular sandwich containing more sodium than almost five McDonald’s cheeseburgers.

Action on Salt & Sugar, a leading health campaign group, analyzed 546 sandwiches, wraps, rolls and baguettes sold in supermarkets and high street chains. The findings show that one in 10 of these lunch options exceed health targets for both salt and calories.

Nearly half (44 percent) carry a red or “high” salt warning on the front-of-package label, while nearly a third (32 percent) provide half or more of an adult’s maximum daily salt limit in a single serving. The charity said these findings “reveal the extent of hidden salt in daily lunch choices” and reveal the “failure” of the government’s voluntary approach to improving the nutritional quality of food.

The “worst offender” identified was the Smoked Chicken Caesar Club sold by upscale café chain Gail’s, which contained a “staggering” 6.88 grams of salt. This amount is equivalent to approximately 10 slices of bacon or five McDonald’s cheeseburgers. UK health guidelines recommend that adults consume no more than 6 grams (about a teaspoon) of salt a day.

Moreover, this sandwich also contained 1,067 calories and 90 percent of an adult’s maximum daily limit of saturated fat, while providing only 20 percent of the recommended fiber intake.

The broader picture was equally worrying. The researchers found that a third of sandwiches surveyed received a red alert for saturated fat, with more than one in seven sandwiches simultaneously containing high amounts of fat, saturated fat and salt.

Nearly all sandwiches (97 percent) failed to provide even one-third of the daily recommended fiber intake. A quarter (25 per cent) of sandwiches are classed as “less healthy” under the current Nutritional Profiling Model 2004/5, which restricts how and where they can be promoted to customers. The research also highlighted that sandwiches bought outside the home (OOH) are often saltier than those sold in supermarkets.

Other high-salt offenders included Gail’s Smoked Salmon Bagel with Schmear and Pickled Pink Onion (4.2g salt), Paul’s Rosette Cheese Salami Gherkin (4.19g) and Pret A Manger’s Ham and Greve Baguette (3.85g).

Other products that are particularly high in salt include Tesco’s Fully Loaded Hot Honey Halloumi, Falafel and Pickle Slaw (3.78g), Tootoomoo’s Sriracha Pork Sando (3.67g) and Sainsbury’s Kitchen Deli Bacon, Cheddar Cheese and Gherkin Mustard Mayo (3.67g); all of which contain more salt than 12 standard bags of ready-made salted chips.

However, Action on Salt & Sugar also found significant differences in the salt content of similar sandwiches and fillings, indicating that reformulation is possible. For example, Pret A Manger’s Chicken Salad Sandwich contained 2.22g of salt, while Greggs’ Fried Chicken Salad Sandwich contained half as much salt at 1.1g.

Similarly, an M&S All Day Breakfast Sandwich had 2.65 grams of salt, while Sainsbury’s All Day Breakfast Sandwich had 1.54 grams.

Several low-salt products are examples of successful reformulations, including Subway’s Veggie Delite Sub with just 0.60g of salt, Pret A Manger’s Avo, Olive & Toms Half Baguette with 0.82g, Caffe Nero’s Chicken, Tomato and Basil Hot Wrap with 1.08g, and Greggs’ Tuna Mayonnaise and Cucumber Sandwich with 1.1g per serving. was highlighted.

Companies such as Pollen + Grace, The Gym Kitchen and Urban Rajah were praised for meeting calorie and salt reduction targets across all of their surveyed products, avoiding red warning labels and not being classed as high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS).

Among retailers, Asda and Lidl achieved full compliance with salt targets for sandwiches, while Starbucks and Greggs achieved full compliance with both salt and calorie targets, delivering the lowest average salt levels in the OOH sector.

Research shows that adults in the UK consume an average of 8.4 grams of salt a day, 40 per cent above the maximum limit, with most of this hidden in processed, pre-packaged and out-of-home foods such as sandwiches. Excessive salt intake raises blood pressure, which is the leading cause of strokes and a major cause of heart and kidney disease. Consumers buy 11.5 billion sandwiches across the UK each year.

Sonia Pombo, head of research and impact at Action on Salt & Sugar, commented: “Most people choose sandwiches for lunch for their simplicity, convenience and affordability. But what they’re actually eating could be a full day’s worth of salt hidden between two slices of bread.”

More than 20 years after the first salt reduction targets were introduced, it is frankly unacceptable that some companies continue to sell sandwiches that exceed an adult’s daily limit in one go.

Voluntary action has been allowed to drift for too long, and the result is a food environment that continues to put public health at risk. “The government must now step in with drastic and mandatory measures because leaving this to the good will of the industry has clearly failed.”