CASH find high salt levels in KFC salads

KFC’s Zinger Salad with Caesar Dressing or Low Fat Vinaigrette Dressing, containing pieces of chicken fillet, was one of the highest salt offerings, just behind a crayfish salad from EAT and a Pret A Manger Humous salad. The 3.1g of salt per portion was followed by 2.9g of salt per portion in KFC Original Recipe Chicken Salad with Caesar dressing or low-fat vinaigrette dressing.

McDonald’s Crispy Chicken and Bacon Salad with Low Fat Caesar Salad Dressing or Low Fat Balsamic Dressing was the next highest, with 2.6g of salt per portion.

A surprising number of salads on the high street contained more than half of the daily recommended salt intake, Around 10% of salads had more salt than a McDonald’s Big Mac.

The CASH study covered 270 salads and pasta bowls purchased from retail outlets, supermarkets, cafés and fast food restaurants in the UK. Marks & Spencer was found to have seven of the 10 saltiest supermarket salads and pasta bowls.

Katharine Jenner, CASH campaign manager, said: “Given the healthy image of salads, it’s surprising to find they contain such high levels of unnecessary salt. In the long term, the health problems are more serious, as salt intake is linked to osteoporosis and high blood pressure.”

The CASH report added that few fast food chains or high street cafés had any indications of salt content levels per portion on the front of the pack. The investigators also found that salt levels between products in the same restaurant could vary enormously.

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