A recent study has revealed alarmingly high salt content in some of the UK’s most popular shop-bought sandwiches. Action on Salt & Sugar analysed 546 sandwiches, wraps, rolls, and baguettes from supermarkets and high street chains, uncovering that one in ten exceed recommended salt and calorie health targets.
The study found that 44% of these products would warrant a red or “high” salt warning on their packaging, with 32% delivering half or more of an adult’s maximum daily salt limit in just one serving. The findings expose not only the hidden salt in everyday lunch options but also the shortcomings of the Government’s voluntary approach to improving food nutrition.
The worst offender was Gail’s Smoked Chicken Caesar Club sandwich, containing a staggering 6.88g of salt—roughly equal to nearly 10 rashers of bacon or five McDonald’s cheeseburgers. Considering UK health guidelines advise adults to consume no more than 6g of salt daily (about one level teaspoon), this single sandwich exceeds that limit. It also contains 1,067 calories and 90% of the maximum recommended saturated fat intake, while providing only 20% of the recommended daily fiber.
Overall, one-third of sandwiches analysed carried a red warning for saturated fat, while more than one in seven were simultaneously high in fat, saturated fat, and salt. Nearly all sandwiches (97%) failed to meet a third of the daily recommended fiber intake, and a quarter were labelled “less healthy” under the current Nutrient Profiling Model, restricting their promotion.
The research highlighted that sandwiches purchased out-of-home (OOH) generally contained more salt than those from supermarkets. High-salt contenders included Gail’s Smoked Salmon Bagel with Schmear and Pickled Pink Onions (4.2g), Paul’s Rosette Cheese Salami Gherkin (4.19g), and Pret A Manger’s Ham & Greve Baguette (3.85g). Other high salt options were Tesco’s Fully Loaded Hot Honey Halloumi, Falafel and Pickled Slaw (3.78g), Tootoomoo’s Sriracha Pork Sando (3.67g), and Sainsbury’s Kitchen Deli Pastrami, Cheddar Cheese & Gherkin Mustard Mayo (3.67g), all containing more salt than 12 standard bags of ready salted crisps.
Interestingly, the salt content varied widely even among similar sandwiches. For example, Pret A Manger’s Chicken Salad Sandwich contained 2.22g of salt, while Greggs’ equivalent had only 1.1g. M&S’s All Day Breakfast Sandwich had 2.65g compared to Sainsbury’s version with 1.54g.
These differences indicate that salt reduction is achievable. Lower-salt examples include Subway’s Veggie Delite Sub (0.60g), Pret A Manger’s Avo, Olive & Toms Half Baguette (0.82g), Caffe Nero’s Chicken, Tomato & Basil Hot Wrap (1.08g), and Greggs’ Tuna Mayonnaise & Cucumber Sandwich (1.1g).
Some brands notably got it right. Every product surveyed from Pollen + Grace, The Gym Kitchen, and Urban Rajah met calorie and salt reduction targets with no red front-of-pack warnings, and none were high in fat, sugar, or salt (HFSS). Retailers Asda and Lidl fully complied with salt targets for sandwiches, while Starbucks and Greggs led the out-of-home sector with low average salt levels and full compliance with salt and calorie goals.
Despite efforts, UK adults consume on average 8.4g of salt daily, exceeding the recommended maximum by 40%, much of which is hidden in processed and pre-packed foods like sandwiches. Excessive salt intake raises blood pressure, increasing risks of stroke, heart disease, and kidney complications. The UK buys 11.5 billion sandwiches annually, underscoring the significance of this issue.
Sonia Pombo, Head of Research and Impact at Action on Salt & Sugar, commented, “People often pick sandwiches for their convenience, but many are unknowingly consuming a full day’s worth of salt in a single meal. More than 20 years since salt reduction targets were introduced, it’s unacceptable that some sandwiches still exceed daily limits in one serving. Voluntary measures have failed, and the Government must implement mandatory regulations to protect public health.”