Marks & Spencer today announces it will meet major industry salt reduction targets set in March this year by February 2005. The retailer will also reduce salt levels in an additional three key areas outside of the industry targets as part of its own Salt Reduction Programme.
Following a request from the Department of Health for the food industry to submit salt reduction plans, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) agreed with food retailers nine* major target areas in March 2004. The move by Marks & Spencer sees it going further - and faster - than any other retailer in the action taken to reduce salt.
Marks & Spencer's Salt Reduction Programme covers over 800 products, including some of the retailer's heartland ranges such as ready meals and sandwiches, and the majority of foods which add salt to the diet.
David Gregory, Head of Food Technology at Marks & Spencer, comments: "We've already made significant progress in our Salt Reduction Programme with 92% of ready meals containing less than 3g of salt and a single serving of all our breakfast cereal containing less than 0.7g of salt. We clearly state the salt content of products on pack so customers can make a well-informed choice.
"It's a challenging area as salt is a major contributor to the taste of products and we are on course to achieve all targets by February 2005. We won't compromise on taste, eating quality or customer acceptability and will be adhering to our usual high quality standards."
Dr Judy Buttriss, British Nutrition Foundation Science Director, comments: "Most of us are eating more salt than we should and too much in the diet can lead to health problems. Processed foods contribute 75% of our overall salt intake and so the British Nutrition Foundation welcomes any efforts that are made by the food industry to help consumers to reduce the amount of salt they are consuming.
"With the forthcoming FSA campaign driving a reduction in salt consumption, consumers will be all the more aware of salt in their diet and the need to take action."
-Ends-
For further information please contact:
Victoria Broughton Tel: 020 7268 6891/ 07909 687834
Tania Littlehales Tel: 020 7268 2098
British Nutrition Foundation
Tel: 020 7404 6504
Website links: http://www.nutrition.org.uk/
http://www.nutrition.org.uk/information/dietandhealth/salt2004.htm
Notes to editors:
-
The BRC has established a five year completion plan for the industry, culminating in 2009. The nine target areas include: baked beans in tomato sauce, everyday bread, breakfast cereals, quiches, pizza (chilled and frozen), ready meals (chilled and frozen), sandwiches, soups (dry, ambient, chilled and canned) and cook-in sauces.
-
In addition, Marks & Spencer will also be reducing the salt levels in an additional three areas - sausages, meat pies and sweet bakery products
-
The 800 products affected represent a proportion of Marks & Spencer's total food range (c.4,000) however, they represent all foods which significantly contribute to the salt in the diet
-
Examples of salt reduction levels in Marks & Spencer's Salt Reduction Programme:
-
All sandwiches will contain less than 2.4g of salt by the end of 2004
-
Two slices of Marks & Spencer 'everyday' bread will contain less than 1g of salt by February 2005
