Almost one in four shop-bought soups in the UK still exceed government salt targets, more than a year after the deadline to meet voluntary reduction goals. A study by Action on Salt and Sugar found that 23% of ready-to-eat soups surveyed surpass the maximum target of 0.59g per 100g, revealing significant industry non-compliance.
The analysis of 481 soups across major UK retailers exposed a stark divide between branded and own-label products. While 48% of branded soups exceeded the target, only 6% of supermarket alternatives did. The saltiest product identified was Soup Head Tom Yum Soup, containing 1.01g of salt per 100g – more than two McDonald's cheeseburgers in a single 300g pack.
Many soups would receive red warning labels under front-of-pack labelling rules. The study found 16% of products would carry high salt warnings, while only 2% would achieve a green label. The average serving contains 1.43g of salt, with 11% of products exceeding 2g in a single suggested serving – one-third of the 6g daily adult maximum.
Industry under pressure
Sonia Pombo, head of impact and research at Action on Salt and Sugar, called for stronger government intervention. «Soup is often marketed as a healthy, everyday choice, but our findings show it can be a major source of hidden salt,» she said. «Nearly one in four soups are still exceeding the maximum salt target, despite food businesses being expected to meet it more than a year ago.»
She added: «The UK used to be a world leader on salt reduction, but progress has stalled. Government must get back on the front foot with stronger incentives to drive reformulation, and proper accountability, so the healthier option becomes the default, not the exception.»
Mixed industry response
Retailers defended their reformulation efforts while acknowledging ongoing challenges. Asda stated all its branded soups surveyed meet healthy classification standards based on the nutrient profiling model. «Reformulation and new product development are a key part of us driving this target and salt content is a key consideration in our decision making,» the retailer said.
Heinz highlighted decades of salt reduction work. «We've been reducing the amount of salt in our products since the mid-1980s,» the company stated. Its No Added Sugar Cream of Tomato Soup contains 25% less salt than the classic recipe. «Reducing sodium without compromising on taste and quality is a complex process and there's still work to be done.»
A Soup Head Tom Yum Soup spokesman said the company would «always continue to look at ways to better our products for the consumer, and absolutely salt is very, very high on that list or priorities, especially with this flavour.»
Daylesford acknowledged a packaging error for its Minestrone soup, which had been reported at 1g per 100g. Laboratory analysis confirmed the actual content is 0.67g per 100g – 33% lower than stated. «Corrected packaging is already in production,» the brand said.
Andrea Martinez Inchausti, assistant director of food at the British Retail Consortium, emphasized the need for balance. «It is, of course, important to strike a balance between diminishing salt levels while also retaining the quality and taste which consumers expect,» she said. «The clear labelling packaging ensures that consumers are fully aware of the salt content in the products they buy.»
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
