Calls for warnings on labels of ‘astonishingly salty’ Chinese food

Chinese ready meals and takeaway dishes should include health warnings on packaging and menus to inform customers about the food’s “astonishing and harmful” salt levels, experts say.

In a study published today by campaign group Action on Salt, the “worst-offending” takeaway dishes were found to contain as much salt as five McDonald’s Big Macs, says The Guardian. Many other takeaway dishes contain more than half an adult’s daily sodium allowance, and some rice dishes pack in more salt than 11 bags of ready salted chips.

Action on Salt is calling on the Government to enforce stricter health labelling; force restaurants to put warnings on high-salt dishes; and set food manufacturers new salt reduction targets for ready meals.

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The report also advised diners to go easy when flavouring food with soy sauce, which is more than five times as salty as seawater.

Eating too much salt has been linked to a range of degenerative health conditions including heart disease.

“Salt is the forgotten killer as it puts up our blood pressure, leading to tens of thousands of unnecessary strokes, heart failure and heart attacks every year,” said Action on Salt chair Graham MacGregor, a professor of cardiovascular medicine.

“Reducing salt is the most cost effective measure to reduce the number of people dying or suffering from strokes or heart disease. We are now calling on Public Health England to take immediate action.”