AOS Survey reveals meat-free products contain excessive salt

A survey conducted by Action on Salt (AOS) revealed that 28% of meat-free products exceeded maximum salt targets, which were due to be met by 31 December 2017.

AOS is an expert group based at Queen Mary University of London.

The group is urging Public Health England to take immediate action and address its concerns over meat-free products.

Action on Salt nutritionist Mhairi Brown said: “Research has highlighted that we must reduce the amount of meat we eat to reduce the negative impact of climate change.

“The food industry has ensured greater availability of meat-free alternatives, but now they must do more to ensure that meat-free alternatives contain far less salt, at the very least lower than their meat equivalents.

“This survey drives home the urgent need for Public Health England to reinvigorate the UK’s salt reduction strategy.”

The survey found that Tofurky’s Hickory Smoked Deli Slices and Tesco’s Meat Free Bacon Style Rashers were the saltiest products, containing as much salt per 100g as seawater.

Queen Mary University of London cardiovascular medicine professor and Action on Salt chairman Graham MacGregor said: “Reducing salt is the most cost-effective measure to reduce the number of people dying or suffering from entirely unnecessary strokes and heart disease.

“Given the vast amounts of strokes and heart disease that could be avoided and huge savings to the NHS, it is incomprehensible that Public Health England is not doing more to reduce the amount of salt in our food.”

The latest AOS survey found that beef burgers from Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda contain 0.75g of salt per serving, lower than that of meat-free burgers with 0.89g of salt per serving.