Call to cut Chinese food salt level

Salt warnings should be compulsory for Chinese takeaways and ready meals, health campaigners have said.

Action On Salt said there is urgent need to reduce salt content in popular takeaways and ready meals.

The comments come after it found that some takeaway dishes have half an adult’s recommended daily allowance in just one dish.

The campaign group performed analysis on dishes from six Chinese restaurants which found that 97% contained 2g of salt or more per dish. And 58% contained more than 3g of salt per dish – half an adult’s recommended daily intake.

It said that adding side dishes would mean that people exceed the 6g per day recommended limit of salt in one meal alone.

Action On Salt also examined Chinese ready meals from popular supermarkets and found some dishes had more than 4g of salt per pack.