Own label loaves from Waitrose and Iceland have been singled out by World Action on Salt & Health figures highlighting high levels of salt in bread around the globe.
An international survey of 32 countries by WASH revealed this week that the average salt content of white and wholemeal breads from the UK was 0.93g per 100g – slightly higher than the average advised for 2017 by Public Health England for bread and rolls without additions. PHE’s recommended maximum was 1.13g of salt per 100g.
While British bakeries had made progress in salt reduction, the new data – unveiled to mark World Salt Awareness Week – suggested work may have slowed, said WASH. This demonstrated “that mandatory salt reduction targets, such as those put in place in South Africa, are more effective than voluntary targets”.
In the UK, WASH dentified Waitrose Duchy Organic Wholemeal Batch as being one of the UK’s saltiest, with 1.1g of salt per 100g. A spokeswoman for the grocer insisted the salt level was “within Public Health England’s voluntary salt reduction target guidelines for bread, and is clearly labelled with a recommended portion size, so our customers can make an informed choice”.
The loaf had an amber traffic light, she added, and Waitrose sold “a wide range of loaves, which our customers can choose if they are concerned about their salt intake”.
WASH also picked out Iceland’s own-label Thick Sliced Soft White as having 1.1g of salt per 100g. However, the retailer declined to comment.
Data for 3,729 bread products was scrutinised by WASH for its study, which found China, Qatar and Malaysia had the lowest salt levels for white bread, while Qatar, China and Costa Rica were lowest in wholemeal. The saltiest white bread came from Republic of Macedonia and Italy, and Bulgaria had the saltiest wholemeal.
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