ALMOST HALF of some of the UK’s most popular sandwiches qualify for a ‘high’ salt warning under current front-of-pack nutrition labelling criteria, new research from Action on Salt & Sugar has found.
The study analysed 546 sandwiches sold across major UK supermarkets and high street chains, from Sainsbury’s and Morrisons to Greggs and Caffè Nero.
Nearly Five McDonald’s Cheeseburgers Worth of Salt in One Sandwich
Of the sandwiches analysed, 44% would receive a red ‘high’ salt label under front-of-pack labelling guidelines.
One in four sandwiches are classified as ‘less healthy’ under current High Fat, Salt and Sugar (HFSS) regulations, meaning they would face restrictions on advertising and promotion.
Government salt reduction targets, that businesses were expected to meet two years ago, are missed in 12% of sandwiches and one in 10 fail to meet calorie reduction targets.
All sandwiches offered by Gail’s, Starbucks, Coco di Mama, and Tootoomoo had high levels of salt.
In fact, the Gail’s smoked chicken caesar club contained 6.88g of salt: the equivalent of nearly five McDonald’s cheeseburgers.
Alternatively, Pollen + Grace, The Gym Kitchen, and Urban Rajah were notable for having no sandwiches high in fat, saturated fat, or salt.
40% Above Maximum Daily Recommended Salt Intake
UK adults currently consume, on average, 40% above the 6g recommended maximum salt intake per day, which can in turn raise blood pressure, a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.
With 11.5 billion sandwiches eaten in the UK every year, even small reductions in salt could have a significant impact on public health and relieve pressure on the NHS.
Sonia Pombo, Head of Research and Impact, Action on Salt & Sugar, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK, said: “Most people choose sandwiches for lunch for their simplicity, convenience, and affordability.
“But what they’re actually eating can be a full day’s worth of salt hidden between two slices of bread.
“More than 20 years after the first set of salt reduction targets were introduced, it’s frankly unacceptable that some companies continue to sell sandwiches that exceed an adult’s daily limit in one go.
“Voluntary action has been allowed to drift for too long, and the result is a food environment that continues to put public health at risk.
“The Government must now step in with tough, mandatory measures, because leaving this to industry goodwill has clearly failed.”
Reference
Action on Salt & Sugar. Salt out our sandwiches! A nutritional analysis of the lunch-on-the-go staple. 2026. Available at: https://www.actiononsalt.org.uk/media/action-on-salt/awareness/saltaw-2026/Action-on-Salt-&-Sugar—Sandwiches-Report_May-2026.pdf. Last accessed: 13 May 2026.
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