According to a new study by Action on Sugar and Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) at Queen Mary University of London, 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 program – 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 program 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, ?akes with additions (0·81g) contained the most salt per 100g. wheras crunchy nut-style (32.22g) cereals contained most sugar per 100g, examples of products currently available in supermarkets are included below. 

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 fiber 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 program, 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 program, as part of the Government’s Childhood Obesity Plan,  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 program. 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.”