UK Research Finds Hidden Salt in Butter, Spreads

LONDONResults of a new survey by the Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) revealed a large number of butter, margarine, fats and spreads contain unnecessary levels of salt, to the extent that the majority failed to achieve the salt requirements set by the Department of Health.

The research looked at more than 300 products from leading supermarkets, and found that 62% of fats and spreads contain more salt than what is deemed acceptable by the Department of Health's 2012 Salt Targets, part of a national salt-reduction campaign to raise public awareness of the impact of salt on health and to work with the food industry to reduce the amount of salt in processed foods. Other key findings conclude low-fat spreads can be higher in salt content than the full fat version, and often the salt content of varieties labeled "slightly salted" or "lighter" did not differ much from regular salted products.

High examples of Butter NB. A portion has been standardized to 10g throughout

High examples of Margarines/Spreads

Interestingly, results of a study from Queen Mary University published in June 2013 found salt levels in packaged bread sold in the United Kingdom have been reduced by an average of 20% over the past 10 years. The findings come on the heels of a 2013 study that found the UKs salt reduction efforts are paying off in the five years following the kick-off of a national salt-reduction campaign.