Posh sandwich has more salt than nearly five cheeseburgers

A smoked chicken Caesar club sandwich from the upmarket bakery Gail’s has been found to contain 6.88 grams of salt, exceeding the recommended daily limit of 6 grams for adults. This amount of salt is reportedly higher than that found in nearly five McDonald’s cheeseburgers or ten rashers of bacon, according to analysis by the campaign group Action on Salt & Sugar. The group reviewed 546 sandwiches and found that more than 10% exceeded government salt targets, with 44% requiring a red warning label due to their salt content. The Gail’s sandwich also contained over 1,000 calories and 90% of an adult’s daily saturated fat intake. Action on Salt & Sugar highlighted other sandwiches with high salt levels, including Gail’s smoked salmon bagel with 4.2 grams of salt, Paul’s rosette cheese salami gherkin sandwich with 4.19 grams, and Pret A Manger’s ham and grevé baguette with 3.85 grams. The campaign group warned that many consumers unknowingly consume a full day’s worth of salt in a single sandwich, posing a hidden health risk. Excessive salt intake is linked to high blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes, often referred to as the “silent killer.” The group also pointed out that high salt content is not inevitable, citing examples of similar sandwiches with widely varying salt levels, such as Pret A Manger’s chicken sandwich containing 2.22 grams of salt compared to Greggs’ version with just 1.1 grams. They called for stronger government action, criticizing voluntary salt reduction targets as ineffective. Dr. Pauline Swift, chair of Action on Salt & Sugar, emphasized that salt reduction is a cost-effective and impactful public health measure, but progress has stalled. The British Heart Foundation’s senior dietitian Dell Stanford advised that while the findings should not deter occasional consumption of shop-bought sandwiches, consumers should remain mindful of salt intake.