Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has given a robust response to alarming findings that some of his ready meals contain three times as much salt as a portion McDonald’s fries.
An investigation by Action on Salt, a group of leading academics, revealed that the TV cook’s offerings — sold in Sainsbury’s — contain ‘dangerously’ high levels of salt.
All of the six ready meals produced by the chef that were analysed by the campaign group were found to contain more than 1.5g of salt per 100g.
Eighty-three per cent were also found to be high in both fat and saturated fat, and all were found to be low in fibre, which is important for preventing bowel cancer.
The restauranter is known for his healthy eating campaigning, including a 2005 crusade to introduce more nutritious food into British schools and eliminate high-calorie meals like the infamous turkey twizzlers.
Now he runs advocacy groups aiming to slash childhood obesity.
Responding to the revelations, a spokesperson for the Jamie Oliver Group said: ‘We’ve always believed in balance, in our cookbooks, in our restaurants and that remains consistent across our food products which range from healthy options — frozen veg and grain pouches — to the more indulgent ready meals.
‘This is in line with Jamie’s longstanding 70:30 ethos. Everything is sourced to Jamie’s high food standards, there are no hidden artificial nasties or sugars and we are always transparent with clear front-of-pack labelling about which of our range is more indulgent.’
The Action on Salt researchers found that one in five ready meals for sale in Britain exceeded the recommended daily limits for salt, fat and unsaturated fat.
The probe looked at the nutritional content of more than 1,500 meals sold by more than 30 brands and supermarkets in the UK.
Results showed that the saltiest option contains a whopping 6.1g per serving—nearly twice as salty as seawater, two margarita pizzas (5.2g) or almost ten servings of chips at McDonald’s.
The NHS recommends adults only eat 6g of salt for the entire day, for children the limit is even lower.
Commenting earlier today, experts labelled the probe’s findings ‘concerning’ and ‘unacceptable’, arguing manufacturers must reduce the salt content of their meals and protect public health.
Having excess salt in your system leads to water retention in the blood raising your blood pressure.
This can, subsequently, raise the risk of a potentially fatal heart attack or stroke.
Heart disease and strokes are one of Britain’s biggest killers, killing about 160,000 a year, with the American death toll about five times higher.
The World Health Organisation recommends adults eat no more than 5g of salt per day, which is equal to around one teaspoon. NHS guidance, meanwhile, tells people not to eat more than 6g a day, or around one teaspoon. This is the equivalent amount to what is found in 17 packets of crisps
Of the 1,511 ready meals analysed, Action of Salt found 56 per cent were high in salt, 42 per cent high in saturated fat and 71 per cent low in fibre.
One in five were found to be both high in fat and salt simultaneously.
Action on Salt’s head of impact and research Sonia Pombo said voluntary targets for producers to reduce salt content introduced in 2006 were clearly not working.
‘With over half of ready meals found to be unacceptably high in salt, consumers’ health are being put at serious risk, often without realising it,’ she said.
‘It should not be this hard to eat healthily.
‘We now need the government to stop pandering to industry interests and introduce mandatory salt reduction targets with real consequences for non-compliance.’
Dr Pauline Swift, chair of the charity Blood Pressure UK, also called for action.
‘Excess salt in our food is directly linked to raised blood pressure–the biggest risk factor for strokes, heart disease and kidney disease–all of which are completely avoidable,’ she said.
‘The government must act now to enforce stronger salt reduction targets and protect public health before even more lives are needlessly lost.’
Professor Bryan Williams OBE, chief medical and scientific officer at the British Heart Foundation, added: ‘This concerning data shows it is not always straightforward for people to find ready meals which are low in salt.
‘Food companies must do more to reduce salt in their products, so that the healthy options are more easily available.’
The NHS warns that too much fat in your diet, especially saturated fats, can raise your cholesterol, which in turn increases the risk of heart disease.
On the other hand, getting enough fibre, also called roughage, helps with digestion, preventing constipation and is also linked with a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer.
Ready meals are now considered a staple of the modern British diet with surveys suggesting three out of four people consuming at least one per week.
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