Salty issues

New research published shows that people in some countries are consuming more than twice as much salt in popular global brands as their counterparts elsewhere in the world.

World Action on Salt and Health (WASH) has surveyed over 260 food products available around the world from food manufacturers such as KFC, McDonald’s, Kellogg’s, Nestlé, Burger King and Subway. Not one food product surveyed had the same salt content around the world and some displayed huge differences in salt content from one country to another.

The Australian division of WASH says the research highlights the huge potential for further salt reduction in many products. The Australian food industry has been reducing salt in foods for some time and has shown a strong commitment to continued reductions. Coles (supermarket) has a strategy in place to reduce salt in its Housebrand products by 25% over the next five years. The Smith’s Snackfood Company, Unilever Australasia, Kellogg’s and Bakers Delight are just four of a growing list of manufacturing companies that have salt reduction strategies in place.

Many major market leaders in the fast food sector are also on board to reduce salt. Earlier this year AWASH published a survey of salt levels in a range of foods sold by six major fast food chains in Australia (KFC, Hungry Jack’s, Oporto, Red Rooster, Subway and McDonald’s) revealing the unacceptable levels of salt in fast foods. Four of these companies (KFC, Oporto, Subway and McDonald’s) have since been in contact to highlight ongoing or new commitments to salt reduction.

McDonald’s Australia has been making reductions in a range of foods since 2007 to meet criteria for the Heart Foundation Tick and has committed to continued reductions across its full menu range. More recently Yum! Restaurants Australia, the franchisor of KFC and Pizza Hut in Australia put out a statement saying: “Yum! is focused on reducing sodium across the core products on the menu, while still providing customers with great tasting, fresh products.”

AWASH Project Manager Jacqui Webster said, “AWASH launched the Drop the Salt! Campaign in May 2007 with the aim of bringing all stakeholders together in a shared commitment to reduce population salt intakes. Since then around 20 major Australian companies have developed action plans showing how they plan to further reduce salt in foods”.

The WASH research revealed that Australian takeaway foods such as Hungry Jack’s Double Whopper burger, KFC Twister and the McDonald’s Big Mac were at the upper half of the table, while the McChicken sandwich and Subway six-inch were at the lowest part.

AWASH has already highlighted fast foods as a priority sector for salt reduction along with bread and cereals and processed meat products.

Webster added, “Reducing salt intakes in Australia would save thousands of lives each year and the international research published today shows that more work is needed. AWASH will be continuing to work with the food industry and monitor foods to ensure that salt levels in Australian products are at acceptable levels. Government action is urgently needed to establish clear targets for the food industry and raise consumer awareness.”