Report highlights failure of snacks sector to curb levels of excessive use of sugar and salt
A fresh report from campaign organisation Action on Salt and Sugar, based at Queen Mary University of London has found the majority of savoury snacks on supermarket shelves fail to meet the government’s ‘healthier’ product categorisation, writes Neill Barston.
According to the group, product ranges failed in part due to elevated levels of salt and sugars – which a wide range of medical groups and health charities have repeatedly offered warnings over and called for government intervention.
As the Action on Salt and Sugar noted, in the analysis of over 1,200 crisps, nuts and popcorn snacks, a large majority of 77% of crisps, 56% of nuts, and 88% of popcorn would be scored ‘less healthy’ under the government’s guidelines – justifiably restricting some products from being advertised on TV and online before 9pm from October 2025.
Often regarded as a healthier snack, many ready-to-eat popcorn products contain excessive levels of salt and sugar. Further, 27% of all ready-to-eat popcorn products exceed the government’s voluntary maximum salt targets – with over one in three saltier than a packet of cheese & onion crisps.
Organisations including Action on Sugar have previously called on the UK government to implement a wider food and drink market taxation on sugar and salt levels similar to the drinks-based sugar tax – which had a markedly positive impact on manufacturers reducing the level of sugars in beverages. At present food formulation guidelines remain on a voluntary basis, and a government drive to encourage businesses to reduce sugar levels in product ranges on a self-regulatory basis failed to yield results – with chocolate manufacturers in fact increasing sugar levels over a five year period up until 2022.
As for the latest study,, 42% of popcorn surveyed would also receive a red warning label for total sugars, with Morrisons Market Street Toffee Flavour Popcorn with a shocking 59.1g of sugar per 100g – equivalent to more than 7x teaspoons per serving, far exceeding a child’s maximum daily limit8.
Some crisps also continue to provide excessive levels of salt in our diets, with one in three products requiring a high (red) salt warning label on the front of the pack. Among the worst offenders is Eat Real Lentil Chips Chilli & Lemon, which contains 3.6g of salt per 100g – a staggering amount that’s saltier than the concentration of seawater and exceeding the government’s salt target.
Meanwhile, plain nuts are naturally low in salt, but many flavoured varieties fail to meet healthier standards. Nearly one in four flavoured nuts exceed salt targets, with Boundless Sweet Chilli Nuts & Seeds Boost containing 3.24g of salt per 100g (0.8g per bag) – more than double the government’s salt target! Total sugar levels are just as concerning – Whitworths Shots Chocolate & Hazelnut packs an alarming 51g of total sugars per 100g10, meaning a small 25g serving contains over three teaspoons of sugars.
