Healthy breakfasts 'full of salt'

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Many breakfast meals regarded as being healthy are laden with salt, according to a campaign group.

Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash) said a lack of labelling meant customers may not be aware of "hidden" salt in their breakfast.

A study of more than 200 food items showed a traditional full English fry-up could have as much as 6g of salt, the daily limit for an adult.

Cash said people "may not consider" their breakfasts were salt-filled.

The survey found a home breakfast of coffee, orange juice, a 30g serving of Kellogg's Cornflakes and two slices of toast with butter and Marmite contained around 2.8g salt - nearly half the adult recommended daily salt limit.

The study also found many croissants, pastries and muffins also contained high levels of salt.

Surprising

Cash nutritionist Carrie Bolt said: "I think that people are becoming more aware of the importance of having a good breakfast as part of a healthy diet.

"I also think most people know that a full English breakfast is a salty option.

"But many will be surprised to learn that it could contain their whole salt limit for the day, and many more will be surprised that a seemingly healthy start to the day of breakfast cereals and toast can be laden with salt."

Professor Graham MacGregor, Cash chairman and professor of cardiovascular medicine at St George's Hospital Medical School in London, said: "Salt intakes are coming down but we still have a long way to go before we hit the 6g a day target.

"People may be looking at labels and choosing lower salt products for lunch and dinner, but my worry is that they may not even consider that their breakfast could contain a lot of salt."