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Trading standards working for your health
18 January 2008
Do you know how much salt is in the food you eat? Do you regularly check the labels of your packaged meals?
Derbyshire County Council’s trading standards are stepping up their efforts to inform and educate people about the contents of what they eat.
The team recently conducted a salt content survey on a range of breakfast foods across the county.
They tested 30 wheat based products, known as morning goods, including leading brands of crumpets, muffins, croissants and scotch pancakes.
The Food Standards Agency has set a target to reduce salt in these types of products to no more than 1.3g per 100g.
However half of the products sampled had salt levels in excess of the FSA’s voluntary guidelines.
One leading brand of crumpet was found to have 2.11grams of salt per 100grams. Nearly double the recommended amount.
Out of the 30 products tested, only 18 had the salt content indicated. Trading standards want to see more products clearly labelled to help people make informed choices.
Cllr Clive Moesby, cabinet member for community safety, said: “One of trading standards’ aims is to make sure people are correctly informed about the content of their food.
“This is done by carrying out sampling exercises and ensuring that food labels are accurate and the results of this survey show there is still a long way to go.
“We want to work alongside local traders and producers to ensure that the levels of salt in food are clearly indicated on labels and to try and get them in line with FSA guidelines.
“Many people are not aware of the high levels of salt in particular food products and too much can lead to high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease.
“We will be keeping our eye on this area as it is important for people to be accurately informed about what goes into their food.”
For more information about food labelling contact trading standards via Call Derbyshire on 08456 058 058 or visit the FSA website www.food.gov.uk (opens in a new window)
REF:CM:16:08
Do you know how much salt is in the food you eat? Do you regularly check the labels of your packaged meals?
Derbyshire County Council’s trading standards are stepping up their efforts to inform and educate people about the contents of what they eat.
The team recently conducted a salt content survey on a range of breakfast foods across the county.
They tested 30 wheat based products, known as morning goods, including leading brands of crumpets, muffins, croissants and scotch pancakes.
The Food Standards Agency has set a target to reduce salt in these types of products to no more than 1.3g per 100g.
However half of the products sampled had salt levels in excess of the FSA’s voluntary guidelines.
One leading brand of crumpet was found to have 2.11grams of salt per 100grams. Nearly double the recommended amount.
Out of the 30 products tested, only 18 had the salt content indicated. Trading standards want to see more products clearly labelled to help people make informed choices.
Cllr Clive Moesby, cabinet member for community safety, said: “One of trading standards’ aims is to make sure people are correctly informed about the content of their food.
“This is done by carrying out sampling exercises and ensuring that food labels are accurate and the results of this survey show there is still a long way to go.
“We want to work alongside local traders and producers to ensure that the levels of salt in food are clearly indicated on labels and to try and get them in line with FSA guidelines.
“Many people are not aware of the high levels of salt in particular food products and too much can lead to high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease.
“We will be keeping our eye on this area as it is important for people to be accurately informed about what goes into their food.”
For more information about food labelling contact trading standards via Call Derbyshire on 08456 058 058 or visit the FSA website www.food.gov.uk (opens in a new window)
REF:CM:16:08
