Large variations were found in the saltiness of bacon, even within the same supermarket. Morrisons, for instance, sells one smoked back bacon product that contains three times more salt than another Morrisons smoked back bacon product (6.8g/100g vs 2g/100g).
At Sainsbury’s, you can purchase a reduced salt bacon containing almost half the amount of salt (2.95g/100g) than its Taste The Difference Unsmoked Wiltshire cured outdoor bred bacon rashers (5.58g/100g). Even the lower salt version is still saltier than the sea.
While products such as bacon remain very high in salt, there is a real need for clear and consistent front-of-pack labelling to enable customers to make informed choices when shopping. Cash, however, found inconsistencies in the information given on-pack/at point of purchase, making it difficult for customers to compare products.
There was also no pattern to the variation in salt content of different types of bacon, further emphasising the importance of clear and uniform labelling. For instance, smoked bacon did not consistently come out any higher in salt compared to unsmoked, despite common perceptions.
Source: Cash
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