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A chemical analysis of the salt content of sandwiches purchased from independent outlets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 September 2015

E.S. Watts ,
I.G. Davies ,
J.K. Sinclair  and
S.A. Dillon
E.S. Watts
Affiliation:
Division of Sport Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, School of Sport, Tourism and The Outdoors, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE, UK
I.G. Davies
Affiliation:
Faculty of Education, Health and Community, IM Marsh Campus, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L17 6BD, UK
J.K. Sinclair
Affiliation:
Division of Sport Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, School of Sport, Tourism and The Outdoors, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE, UK
S.A. Dillon
Affiliation:
Division of Sport Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, School of Sport, Tourism and The Outdoors, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE, UK
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Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 74 , Issue OCE5: Summer Meeting, 6–9 July 2015, The future of animal products in the human diet: health and environmental concerns , 2015 , E356
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2015 

In recent years there has been an increase in eating away from home and sandwiches are popular choices which are often viewed as the healthy optionReference Tangari, Burton, Howlett, Cho and Thyroff 1 – Reference Hwang and Cranage 2 . However, foods eaten away from home are characterised as having a high salt content and are generally nutritionally inadequateReference Stender, Dyerberg and Astrup 3 – Reference Prentice and Jebb 6 . Diet is widely recognized as a modifiable determinant of health and considering the prevailing problem of non-communicable disease 7 the nutritional quality of food served from independent sandwich outlets is of considerable public health concern. Therefore the present pilot study investigated the salt content of sandwiches purchased from six independent outlets in the UK. A convenience sample of three popular categories of sandwiches (cheese, tuna, and chicken-tikka) were analysed and the results compared against national guidelines. Samples (n = 36) were analysed for sodium by atomic absorption spectrometry and values were converted to salt using a standard conversion factor (2·54) 8 . The calculated salt content of sandwiches (per portion as consumed) from independent outlets was high (Cheese: 3·00 ± 0·97 g, Chicken: 2·88 ± 0·74 g, Tuna: 2·78 ± 0·46 g). In comparison to current guidelines for intake of salt per meal for an adult (1·8 g) these levels equate to over-consumption by an average of 160 %. Regular consumption of sandwiches purchased from independent outlets, particularly in combination with other high salt foods, may contribute to the development of hypertension. Given the popularity of commercially prepared sandwiches, addressing the salt content would have a major public health benefit.

References

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