Hidden health snag revealed
The humble sausage sandwiched in bread and smothered in sauce has a hidden snag – it can contain almost half an adult’s recommended daily salt intake.
THE humble sausage sandwiched in bread and smothered in sauce has a hidden snag – it can contain almost half an adult’s recommended daily salt intake.
New research by health experts reveals there is a massive difference in the salt content of sausages, with some snags more than three times saltier than others.
The George Institute for Global Health is urging food manufacturers to reduce sodium levels in sausages to make it easier for families to make healthier choices. Most adults are already consuming double the daily recommended salt intake, increasing their risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, kidney disease and stroke.
In a new report released today looking at the salt content of 1000 processed meats, it found sausages contained on average 1.2g, which is one quarter of the World Health Organisation’s guideline of 5g a day. The George Institute’s nutritionist Clare Farrand said some sausages contained 2g of salt per serving.
Coles had four out of the five sausages with the highest salt content. Kangaroo snags and Woolworth’s lamb snags featured in the top five snags with the least sodium.
A Coles spokesman said the survey was based on nutritional information panels on products, which was not consistent across different brands.