Alka-seltzer ‘should carry a salt warning’

ALKA-SELTZER should come with a health warning as the maximum daily dose contains as much salt as 20 bags of crisps, consumer watchdogs warn.

A study by Which? found high salt levels in a number of branded soluble painkillers and other medicines.

Experts say regular users could end up far exceeding their recommended daily allowance of salt.

This could lead to increased risk of strokes and heart attacks, particularly among the elderly, according to campaigners at Action on Salt.

Alka-seltzer, popular for more than 80 years, was among the saltiest medicines, with 1.2g per tablet, or 9.6g for the maximum daily dose of eight. Which? calculated this as equivalent to 20.9 packs of Walkers salted crisps.

Maximum daily doses of Panadol Extra-soluble tablets, Beechams Cold Relief Orange Flavour Effervescent Tablets and Gaviscon Cool Mint Liquid all contained more salt than the amount found in six bags of crisps.

A single tablet of Berocca contains as much salt as 1.4 packets of crisps or 11 per cent of the recommended daily intake. Berocca recommends no more than one tablet a day.

Prof Graham Macgregor, chairman of Action on Salt, said: “Many people who take these medications are elderly. It is likely to take their salt intake way above what it should be, leaving them at greater risk of stroke or heart disease. Although on the pack it will say these medicines contain sodium bicarbonate or salt, they should come with a clear health warning.”

Harry Rose, editor of Which? maga- zine said: “The content in medicines and supplements should be made clear on the pack and not buried in a leaflet, so people can make informed decisions.”

John Smith, chief executive at the Proprietary Association of Great Britain, said the comparison with crisps was unfair. He added: “The availability of soluble medicines provides an alternative for people who can’t, or don’t like to, swallow tablets or capsules.

“People should not be taking these medicines regularly for long periods.”