Study Says Bread Contains High Levels of Salt

LONDONSalt is coming under fire again as new research in London reveals some breads contain as much salt or more per slice than a bag of potato chips. The researchers said the hidden levels of salt increase blood pressure and other disease, and they called food manufacturers to reduce salt levels in bread by a half.

Researchers at Queen Mary, University of Londons Consensus Action on Salt & Health (CASH) surveyed the salt content of 294 fresh and packaged loaves from supermarkets, in-store bakeries, and chain and independent high street bakeries. They found 28% of the bread loaves contain as much or more salt per slice than a bag of chips.

With bread being the biggest contributor of salt to our diets, it is frankly outrageous that bread still contains so much salt. The Department of Health needs to ensure that all bread is clearly labeled and that all manufacturers reduce the salt of bread to less than the salt target of 1g/100g," said Professor Graham MacGregor of the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine and Chairman of CASH.

The researchers said consumers should read packaging labels and compare products by 100g (equivalent to two thick slices of bread) because the salt content of bread varies among brands. They found fresh bread from in-store supermarket bakeries and high street bakeries had no nutritional labeling available in store, which makes it difficult for consumers to choose lower salt options or know how much salt they are eating. The supermarkets unlabelled in-store bakery bread generally was higher than the supermarkets packaged bread, with differences of more than half a gram between similar products.

They also found some high street chain bread contained more than three times as much salt per 100g than bread baked in supermarkets. Bread from a local independent bakery fared much better in the survey, with one white loaf found to contain just 0.56g/100g, almost half of the Department of Healths 1g salt target.

However, there is some good news. While salt levels in bread are still too high, the study found the amount has been reduced by 30% over the past 10 years, with some breads being reduced by more than 40%.

Most people wouldnt realize that bread contains so much salt, as it doesnt taste salty" said Katharine Jenner, CASH Campaign Director. You certainly wouldnt expect to be eating more salt than a packet of crisps in just one slice of your favorite bread. It is scandalous that there is no labeling on fresh bread, without it, how are we supposed to know where salt is hidden and cut our intake to less than 6g a day?"