According to a new study by Action on Sugar and Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) at Queen Mary University of London[i], published by the journal Public Health Nutrition, the salt content of popular breakfast cereals sold in the UK since 2005 has decreased by approximately 50% over the past 10 years owing to the successful salt reduction programme – particularly the target-based approach to gradually reduce salt added to food. The Department of Health’s average salt target for breakfast cereals is <0·59 g/100 g and 53% (143/270) of products surveyed in 2015 met this target. However, despite this, cereals STILL remain a major contributor to salt intake. It is vital that the government revive the national salt reduction programme to ensure that reductions are still made and maximum numbers of people are saved from unnecessary strokes and heart disease.

In stark contrast, sugar content in the same breakfast cereals has been steadily high since 1992 and calls have been made for food manufacturers to adapt the successful salt reduction programme by setting sugar targets for different categories of food and drink with immediate effect. This will successfully reduce sugar intake across the whole population and help to prevent obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay.

This research demonstrates that the sugar content of breakfast cereals in the UK is of major concern, particularly in children’s breakfast cereals, with a typical serving (30g) containing a third of a 4–6-year-old’s maximum daily recommendation (19 g/d or 5 teaspoons of sugar) for sugar intake in the UK.

Based on data collected in 2015, on average, flakes with additions (0·81g) contained the most salt per 100g. Whereas crunchy nut-style (32.22g) cereals contained most sugar per 100g, examples of products currently available in supermarkets are included below.[ii]

Examples of flakes with additions higher in salt

Product name	Salt (g)/100g	Salt (g)/30g*	Meet 2017 salt target**
Kellogg’s Special K Red Berries	0.95	0.29	No
Kellogg’s Special K Peach & Apricot	0.95	0.29	No
Aldi Harvest Morn Benefit with Red Fruit	0.70	0.21	No

Examples of flakes with additions lower in salt

Product name	Salt (g)/100g	Salt (g)/30g*	Meet 2017 salt target**
Sainsbury’s Multigrain Flakes & Fruit	0.58	0.17	Yes
ASDA Good & Counted Red Fruits Cereal Flakes	0.60	0.20	No
Morrisons Special Flakes Red Fruits	0.60	0.18	No

 

Examples of crunchy nut-style higher in sugar

Product name	Sugar (g)/100g	Sugar (g)/30g*	Sugar (tsp)/30g
Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut	35.0	11	3
ASDA Honey Nut Corn Flakes	32	9.5	2
Morrisons Honey & Nut Corn Flakes	30.4	9.1	2

Examples of crunchy nut-style lower in sugar  

Product name	Sugar (g)/100g	Sugar (g)/30g*	Sugar (tsp)/30g
Lidl Crownfield Corn Flakes Honey & Peanuts	25	7.5	2
Aldi Harvest Morn Crunchy Honey Nut Corn Flakes	28.0	8.4	2
Sainsbury’s Honey Nut Corn Flakes	28.3	8.5	2

*without milk
**The 2017 average target is <0·59 g/100 g

Joint first author Kawther Hashem (Registered Nutritionist) for Action on Sugar at Queen Mary University of London says:
“Breakfast cereals can be a healthy choice, as they contain fibre and are fortified with vitamins; however our study shows that the sugars content in breakfast cereals has been steadily high since 1992, despite the ever-increasing evidence linking sugars with dental caries, obesity and type 2 diabetes. There has been no national sugar reduction programme, as there has been for salt, which is imperative if we want to see real and measurable improvements.

“The variation in sugar content between similar products clearly demonstrates there is no technical reason whatsoever why cereals contain such high levels of sugar. Public Health England is due to announce a major national sugar reduction programme, as part of the Government’s Childhood Obesity Plan,[iii] in March 2017.  All manufacturers must support the programme and start reducing sugar now.”

Graham MacGregor, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Queen Mary University of London and Chairman of Consensus Action on Salt and Health says:
“Manufacturers should be congratulated for making significant reductions to the salt levels, thanks to a structured salt reduction programme.  However further reductions are needed as cereals remain far too high in salt, and are still a major contributor to salt intake.

“Reducing salt is the most cost effective measure to lower blood pressure and reduce the number of people suffering from strokes and heart disease – one of the commonest causes of death in the UK.”

The full paper, ‘Salt and sugars content of breakfast cereals in the UK from 1992 and 2015‘, is freely available until 22 February. 

For more information contact: David Clarke @ Rock PR:

E: david@rock-pr.com

M: 07773 225516

 

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[i] The study investigated the salt and sugars content of breakfast cereals sold in the UK between 1992 to 2015
The full embargoed paper, being published on 8 February 2017, can be found at this URL: www.cambridge.org/phn/saltandsugar .
[ii] Data was collected in store or online from w/c 30th January 2017 from the following supermarkets: Aldi, ASDA, Co-operative, Lidl, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose.
[iii] Childhood obesity: a plan for action – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childhood-obesity-a-plan-for-action/childhood-obesity-a-plan-for-action