Hidden salt
When most people think of salt, they think of shaking it on their food, or adding a pinch to cooking.
And it's important to try to get out of the habit of using salt in this way. But you also need to be careful about the salt you can't see.
The food we buy
About three-quarters (75%) of the salt we eat is already in the food we buy, including processed foods such as ready meals, sauces, baked beans and pizza.
Almost everyone eats at least some of these types of foods. Even people who make all their own meals from scratch will usually buy foods such as bread and cheese, which contain salt.
So, before you assume that you don't eat too much salt, take a look at what you're buying, as well as how you use salt at home.
Remember that the amount you eat of a particular food affects how much salt you will get from it.
Foods where some brands/recipes are high in salt
- Baked beans
- Breakfast cereals
- Bread products such as crumpets, bagels and ciabatta
- Cooking and pasta sauces
- Crisps
- Pizza
- Ready meals
- Soup
- Sandwiches
- Sausages
- Tomato ketchup, mayonnaise and other sauces
Foods that are often high in salt
- Anchovies
- Bacon
- Cheese
- Chips (if salt added)
- Gravy granules
- Ham
- Olives
- Pickles
- Prawns
- Salami
- Salted and dry roasted nuts
- Salt fish
- Smoked meat and fish
- Soy sauce
- Stock cubes
- Yeast extract
You don't need to stop eating high-salt foods altogether, but it's a good idea to cut down on the amount you eat or eat them less often. Also, when you're shopping, take a look at the label and try to choose brands/recipes that contain less salt. See Understanding labels for more information.
