Shop sandwiches "saltier than 7 bags of crisps"

LONDON, July 5 (Reuters) Some shop-bought sandwiches contain more salt than seven packets of crisps, with all-day breakfast varieties among the saltiest, a campaign group said in a survey today.

Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH), an alliance of doctors and scientists that lobbies the food industry to use less salt, said some sandwiches are saltier than ready-meals.

The saltiest of 140 surveyed was Asda's Extra Special Yorkshire Ham and Hawes Wensleydale, with 3.9 grams.

Walkers ready salted crisps contain 0.5g of salt per bag.

CASH said its research would help consumers make a healthy choice, but the food industry said the survey was misleading.

''Many of us buy a sandwich for our lunch most days of the week, but we need to know how much salt is in those sandwiches,'' said CASH's Carrie Bolt. ''Choosing a high-salt version may take us over the daily limit of salt and could affect our long-term health.'' Eating lots of salt has been linked to high blood pressure, a cause of strokes and heart attacks. The recommended daily limit is 6 grams.

All-day breakfast sandwiches were among the saltiest in the survey. Pret a Manger's version had 3.54g, while the Tesco Finest one had 3.5g.

The British Sandwich Association's Director Jim Winship said survey was ''a little bit of nonsense''.

''We are slightly bemused by this bit of research that appears to be just trying to grab headlines,'' he said. ''The UK sandwich industry doesn't add any salt. The salt in sandwiches comes in the ingredients, just the same as if you go and buy bacon in the supermarket.'' The sandwiches surveyed on average contained less than a third of an adult's daily recommended salt limit, a healthy amount for one meal, he added.

The Salt Manufacturers Association said salt increases a product's shelf life, adds flavour and improves texture.

REUTERS AGL BD1546