An investigation by campaign group Action on Salt has found that two rashers of bacon can contain more salt than 12 packets of ready salted crisps. The review of 171 bacon products sold in British supermarkets revealed that nine out of ten were saltier than seawater.
Marks and Spencer's Select Farms British Dry Cured Unsmoked Middle Bacon was the worst offender, with two rashers containing 4.2g of salt. This is equivalent to 12 bags of Walkers Ready Salted Crisps, which have 0.35g per pack, and two-thirds of an adult's daily recommended salt intake of 6g. M&S also had the second and third saltiest products, including its 'Thick Rashers Thick Cut Smoked Back Bacon' with 2.8g of salt per two slices.
Lidl's Warren and Son's Thick Cut Back Bacon Smoked contained 3g of salt per two rashers, triple the amount found in a Burger King Hamburger (1g). Tesco's Smoked Back Bacon Rashers Thick Cut served up 2.8g per two rashers, the equivalent of seven packets of crisps. The Co-op's Irresistible Air Dry Cured Smoked Back Bacon Rashers had 2.5g per two cuts.
Action on Salt has called for a salt tax on bacon, similar to the sugar levy on soft drinks, arguing that manufacturers are not complying with Public Health England's voluntary salt reduction targets. The group slammed some supermarkets for using loopholes to make bacon appear less salty than it is.
The least salty bacon was The Co-operative Reduced Fat Unsmoked Bacon Medallions, with just 0.9g per two rashers. M&S' Select Farms British Dry Cured Thin & Crispy Smoked Streaky Bacon contained even less at 0.5g, but the rashers were smaller.
