Crunch time on salt and sugar: Popular UK snacks flunk “healthy” government criteria ahead of junk food ad ban

A new UK report exposes excessive salt and sugar in popular snacks, raising alarm with less than eight months to go before national advertising restrictions roll out in October. It flags that the majority of snack products fail to meet the government’s criteria for “healthier” — underscoring a missed opportunity for food brands that have not complied with salt and sugar reduction targets. 

Often regarded as a healthier snack, many ready-to-eat popcorn products contain excessive levels of salt and sugar.

With the upcoming restrictions set to impact companies that fail to reformulate, report publisher Action on Salt and Sugar calls for the government to “get tough” on the food industry and set new, stricter, mandatory salt and sugar reduction targets.

“It’s clear that voluntary efforts to improve food nutrition have largely fallen short. Yet this isn’t about feasibility, as some companies have already shown that reformulation is possible,” says Sonia Pombo, head of impact and research at Action on Salt.

“It’s about time the government gets tough with companies and implement mandatory targets with strong enforcement. Without this, the UK’s hidden salt and sugar crisis will persist, putting consumers at risk and leaving responsible brands at a disadvantage in an uneven marketplace.”

Brands must be quick to act

In the analysis of over 1,200 chips, nuts, and popcorn snacks, 77% of chips, 56% of nuts, and 88% of popcorn would be scored “less healthy” under the government’s guidelines — which would justify restricting products from being advertised on TV and online before 9 pm starting in October.

Although ready-to-eat popcorn has a healthy image, 27% of all ready-to-eat popcorn products exceed the UK government’s voluntary maximum salt targets.Although ready-to-eat popcorn has a healthy image, 27% of all ready-to-eat popcorn products exceed the government’s voluntary maximum salt targets — with over one in three saltier than a packet of cheese and onion crisps.

Meanwhile, 42% of popcorn surveyed would also receive a red warning label for total sugars, with Morrisons Market Street Toffee Flavour Popcorn with 59.1 g of sugar per 100 g — equivalent to more than seven teaspoons per serving, far exceeding a child’s maximum daily limit.

“Reducing salt isn’t just a health recommendation — it’s a lifesaving necessity. Excess salt, often hidden in everyday foods, raises blood pressure which is the leading cause of strokes, heart and kidney disease — all of which is completely avoidable,” stresses Dr. Pauline Swift, chair of Blood Pressure UK.

“Without urgent action to cut both salt and sugar levels, we’re gambling with lives. The government must step up with enforceable targets to protect public health.”

Saltier than seawater

Some crisps also continue to provide excessive levels of salt in people’s diets, with one in three products requiring a high (red) salt warning label on the front of the pack.

Among the “worst offenders” on the list is Eat Real Lentil Chips Chilli & Lemon, which contains 3.6 g of salt per 100 g — an amount that is saltier than the concentration of seawater, exceeding the government’s salt target.

Meanwhile, plain nuts are naturally low in salt, but many flavored varieties fail to meet healthier standards. Nearly one in four flavored nuts exceed salt targets.

“Total sugar levels are just as concerning,” asserts Action on Salt and Sugar. Whitworths Shots Chocolate & Hazelnut packs a significant 51 g of total sugars per 100 g, meaning a small 25 g serving contains over three teaspoons of sugars.

While many snacks are high in salt and sugar, the data notably presents a wide variation in nutrition content. “This demonstrates that, in many cases, it is unnecessary, and they can be made with less salt and sugar,” urges Action on Salt and Sugar.

“Food companies are continuing to harm our health with the products they put on their shelves,” stresses Kate Howard, campaign coordinator for Recipe for Change.

“The range of sugar and salt in the snacks surveyed here shows there’s plenty of scope to reduce these ingredients but while some companies are doing better, most are not incentivized to improve their products. The public doesn’t believe companies will produce healthier food without government regulation, and they’re currently being proved right.”

Earlier this month, the WHO introduced a new health guideline, which addressed for the first time that replacing table salt or sea salt with potassium salt is a healthy and effective way to reduce sodium intake.

Meanwhile, a recent study of Brazilian diets pinpoints sugar added to food as the “villain” in the relationship between stomach cancer and an unhealthy diet, while salt was found to increase the risk of tumors in people with habits considered healthy.