A startling investigation has revealed that nearly one in four ready-to-eat soups sold in UK supermarkets contain excessive levels of salt, raising significant health concerns for consumers. The research conducted by Action on Salt and Sugar (AoSS) analysed 481 popular soup varieties, exposing a troubling trend: many products exceed the government’s voluntary salt targets, putting shoppers at risk of surpassing their daily sodium intake.
Soup Survey Findings
The AoSS study found that 48 per cent of branded soups surpassed the recommended salt limit of 0.59g per 100g, which was meant to be achieved by the end of 2024. In contrast, only 6 per cent of supermarket own-brand soups fell into this high-salt category. Alarmingly, 23 per cent of all soups evaluated did not meet this guideline, highlighting a significant gap in compliance among manufacturers.
The worst offender was Soup Head’s Tom Yum Soup, which contained an astonishing 1.01g of salt per 100g. A standard 300g serving of this soup delivers 3.03g of salt—equivalent to consuming more than two McDonald’s cheeseburgers in one meal. This raises critical questions about the health implications of such high sodium levels, especially when soups are often marketed as nutritious meal options.
Misleading Serving Sizes
AoSS has also raised concerns regarding the serving size recommendations printed on soup packaging. Many brands suggest a serving size of 200g, or half a tin, which may not reflect typical consumption patterns. As a result, consumers could be unknowingly consuming far more salt than intended. For instance, while the average salt content per serving across the surveyed products was 1.43g, 51 soups contained over 2g of salt in a single suggested serving—more than a third of the daily maximum limit of 6g for adults.
Industry Response and Regulatory Action
Sonia Pombo, head of impact and research at AoSS, voiced her dismay at the findings, stating, “Soup is often marketed as a healthy, everyday choice, but our findings show it can be a major source of hidden salt. 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.” Pombo called for the government to implement stronger measures to hold manufacturers accountable, underscoring the need for reformulation to make healthier options the norm rather than the exception.
In response, Asda expressed pride in their commitment to healthy product offerings, noting that all their branded soups were classified as healthy according to nutrient profiling models. The supermarket confirmed that reformulating products to reduce salt content is a priority in their product development strategy.
Why it Matters
This alarming revelation serves as a wake-up call for both consumers and regulators. The excessive salt content in many popular soups not only undermines public health initiatives aimed at reducing sodium intake but also highlights the need for clearer labelling and stricter compliance from food manufacturers. As the UK has historically led the way in salt reduction efforts, the stagnation in progress poses risks to the health of the population. It is imperative for the government to take decisive action to ensure that healthier food choices are readily available and that consumers are protected from hidden dangers lurking in their everyday meals.
