THE unhealthiest crisps, nuts and popcorn products have been revealed in a damning report.
Action on Salt and Sugar exposed popular snacks that contain concerning levels of salt and sugar – including products that are marketed as healthy.
Regarded as a healthy snack, some nuts can contain concerningly high levels of slat[/caption]
The group slammed brands for failing to improve ahead of the UK’s upcoming junk food advertising ban.
From October 2025, companies that do not reformulate their products to meet the government’s criteria for healthier food could be stopped from advertising before 9pm.
Experts argued that high levels of salt and sugar are unnecessary and avoidable.
Dr Pauline Swift, chair of Blood Pressure UK, said: “Reducing salt isn’t just a health recommendation – it’s a lifesaving necessity.
“Excess salt, often hidden in everyday foods, raises blood pressure, which is the leading cause of strokes, heart and kidney disease – all of which is completely avoidable.
“Without urgent action to cut both salt and sugar levels, we’re gambling with lives.”
The study analysed more than 1,200 snack products and found that 77 per cent of crisps, 56 per cent of nuts, and 88 per cent of popcorn would be classified as ‘less healthy’ under the government’s guidelines.
It’s no surprise that some crisp packets are particularly salty – with one in three products surveyed by Action on Salt requiring a red salt warning label on the front of the pack.
But the report up-ends shoppers’ belief that nuts and popcorn are healthier choices.
Nearly a third of ready-to-eat popcorn varieties are saltier than a packet of cheese and onion crisps, the report found.
Meanwhile, popcorn products were also flagged as too sugary – with Action on Salt saying 42 per cent of those included in the survey would receive a red warning label for sugars.
Kate Howard, campaign coordinator for Recipe for Change, added: “Food companies are continuing to harm our health with the products they put on their shelves.
“The range of sugar and salt in the snacks surveyed here shows there’s plenty of scope to reduce these ingredients but while some companies are doing better, most are not incentivised to improve their products.”
Campaigners are calling on the government to introduce stricter mandatory salt and sugar reduction targets.
Here are 12 products flagged in the report as being high in salt or sugar.
Morrisons Market Street Toffee Flavour Popcorn
Morrisons Market Street Toffee Flavour Popcorn was flagged for containing high amounts of sugar[/caption]
One of the worst offenders was Morrisons Market Street Toffee Flavour Popcorn (250g), which contains 59.1g of sugar per 100g —equivalent to more than seven teaspoons (29.6g) per serving.
Adults should have no more than 30g of added sugars per day under the NHS recommended guidelines.
Morrisons said the nutritional information about the product on their website was out of date and should say it contains 45.2g of sugar per 100g, which works out to 22.6g per serving.
But that’s still pretty close to the total amount of added sugar adults are told to stick to daily.
What to look out for on food labels
Nutrition information labels can help you choose between products and keep a check on the amount of foods you’re eating that are high in fat, salt and added sugars.
Most pre-packed foods have a nutrition information label on the back or side of the packaging.
These labels must include the amount of energy in kilojoules (kJ) and kilocalories (kcal), usually referred to as calories.
They must also include information on fat, saturates (saturated fat), carbohydrate, sugars, protein and salt. They may also include other nutrients, like fibre.
All nutrition information is provided per 100 grams or per 100 millilitres and sometimes per portion of the food or drink.
You can use nutrition information labels to help you eat a balanced diet.
If you’re choosing foods and drinks that are high in fat, salt and sugar, have these less often and in small amounts.
Here’s how to know if something is high in fat, saturated fat, sugar or salt.
Total fat
High: more than 17.5g of fat per 100g
Low: 3g of fat or less per 100g
Saturated fat
High: more than 5g of saturated fat per 100g
Low: 1.5g of saturated fat or less per 100g
Sugars
High: more than 22.5g of total sugars per 100g
Low: 5g of total sugars or less per 100g
Salt
High: more than 1.5g of salt per 100g (or 0.6g sodium)
Low: 0.3g of salt or less per 100g (or 0.1g sodium)
Source: NHS
Eat Real Lentil Chips Chilli & Lemon
Eat Real Lentil Chips Chilli & Lemon contained high amounts of salt, according to the report[/caption]
Despite sounding relatively healthy, Eat Real Lentil Chips Chilli & Lemon (95g) were highlighted for their excessive salt content, with 3.6g of salt per 100g, a concentration higher than seawater.
The NHS recommends that adults have no more than 6g of salt per day to lower the risk of high blood pressure.
That’s around one level teaspoon of the stuff.
Eat Real did not respond to The Sun’s request for comment.
Boundless Sweet Chilli Nuts & Seeds Boost
Boundless, Sweet Chilli, Nuts & Seeds Boost were flagged as high in salt, though the company contested this[/caption]
According to the report, Boundless Sweet Chilli Nuts & Seeds Boost contain 3.24g of salt per 100g—more than double the government’s recommended salt target – but are sold in 25g packets.
But the salt level was contested by the company, who said old and outdated nutritional information was used in the report.
Boundless said: “The erroneous 3.24g/100g of salt comes from a misprint on packaging.
“Our Sweet Chilli Nuts & Seeds Boosts actually contain only 0.67g/100g of salt and this has been tested and certified as such – well below government targets.
“Our new packaging arrival will reflect this tested figure rather than an incorrect reading of 3.24g/100g currently on packaging.”
Action on Salt have since updated their report to reflect that.
Whitworths Shots Chocolate & Hazelnut
Whitworths Shots Chocolate & Hazelnut contained the highest amount of sugar[/caption]
Whitworths Shots Chocolate & Hazelnut were highest in sugar, containing 51g of total sugars per 100g, meaning the 25g packets contain over three teaspoons of sugars.
Phil Gowland, commercial director and health director at Whitworths, said that “85 per cent of the sugar [in the product] is naturally occurring from dried fruit and nuts which means its accompanied with fibre, protein and other vital micronutrients.
“The distinction between free sugars and naturally occurring sugars is vital.
“Free sugars cause immediate glucose spikes, whereas natural occurring sugars from dried fruit are absorbed by the body differently because they are contained within the cell structure and accompanied by fibre and other incredible beneficial micro-nutrients which support overall health.”
M&S Salt and Vinegar Chiplets
M&S Salt & Vinegar Chiplets contain 0.70g of salt per serving[/caption]
The report singled out M&S Salt and Vinegar Chiplets as containing 2.80g of salt per 100g.
This works out to 0.70g of salt for each serving of the snack.
An M&S spokesperson told the Sun: “All our products are clearly labelled so customers can make informed choices as part of a healthy, balanced diet.”
The company said customers could turn to their Eat Well and Better Choice ranges for healthier snack options, as they don’t exceed recommended intakes for fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar.
“Our Eat Well flower signposts healthy choices and we are continually reviewing our products to reduce salt and sugar while maintaining quality and taste,” the spokesperson said.
Pipers Lye Cross Cheddar & Onion Sharing Crisps
Pipers Lye Cross Cheddar & Onion Sharing Crisps contain 0.48g of salt per serving[/caption]
Pipers Lye Cross Cheddar & Onion Sharing Crisps were also flagged as containing high amounts of salt.
Action on Salt said there was 1.6g of salt per 100g, which works out to about 0.48g of salt per serving.
The Sun has contacted Pipers Lye Cross for comment.
Forest Feast Slow Roast Sea Salt Colossal Cashews
Forest Feast Slow Roast Sea Salt Colossal Cashews contained high amounts of salt, accord to Action on Salt[/caption]
Nuts tend to be thought of as a healthier snack, but Action on Salt flagged a few brands as containing high levels of salt.
Forest Feast Slow Roast Sea Salt Colossal Cashews had 2.60g of salt per 100g, according to the report.
That’s about 0.65g of salt per serving.
The Sun has contacted Forest Feast for comment.
Joe & Steph’s Sweet and Salty Popcorn
A pack of Joe & Steph’s Sweet & Salty Popcorn contains 0.58g of salt per serving[/caption]
Joe & Steph’s Sweet & Salty Popcorn was flagged as containing 2.25g of salt per 100g, amounting to 0.58g of salt per serving.
Adam Sopher, co-founder & CEO of Joe & Seph’s, told The Sun: “As a small family business we’re focused on producing the best tasting popcorn with over 100 Great Taste Awards, and do have a vast range of other flavours in our range that have a compliant level of salt in them.
“The one product referenced is in the process of being de-listed from our range.”
M&S Belgian Milk Chocolate Cashews
M&S Belgian Milk Chocolate Cashews contain contain 21g of sugar per serving[/caption]
Action on Salt flagged M&S Belgian Milk Chocolate Cashews as containing 49.4g of sugar per 100g.
That means a recommended serving would contain 21g of sugar.
M&S Collection Caramelised Pecans
M&S Collection Caramelised Pecans contains 6.8g of sugar per serving[/caption]
Also on Action on Salt’s list of high-sugar snacks was M&S’s Collection Caramelised Pecans, with 27.3g of sugar per 100g.
A serving of the caramel-coated nuts would contain 6.8g of sugar.
Aldi Snackrite Popcorn Sweet
Aldi Snackrite Popcorn Sweet contains 8.6g of sugar per serving[/caption]
Aldi’s Snackrite Popcorn Sweet was highlighted for containing 31.4g of sugar per 100g, which works out to 8.6g of sugar per serving.
The Sun has contacted Aldi for comment.
Nom Organic Simply Salted Popcorn
Nom Organic Simply Salted Popcorn contains 0.38g of salt per serving[/caption]
Finally, Nom’s Organic Simply Salted Popcorn tipped the salt scale at 1.90g per 100g – or about 0.38g per serving.
The Sun has contacted Nom for comment.
What to snack on instead
Some of the healthier options with low salt included Aldi Specially Selected Mature Cheddar & Red Onion Hand Cooked Crisps, Waitrose Roasted Salted Cashews and Asda salted popcorn.
Lower-sugar winners included Sainsbury’s Simply Sweet Butterfly Popcorn and M&S 70 per cent Dark Chocolate Cocoa Dusted Almonds.
Sonia Pombo, head of research at Action on Salt, said: “It’s clear that voluntary efforts to improve food nutrition have largely fallen short.
“Yet this isn’t about feasibility as some companies have already shown that reformulation is possible.
“It’s about time the government gets tough.”
