A new report by Action on Salt & Sugar has revealed worrying levels of hidden salt, fat and calories in many of the UK’s most popular sandwiches.
The research analysed 546 sandwiches sold across major supermarkets and high street chains. It found that while some businesses are producing healthier options, many sandwiches remain unnecessarily high in salt, with large differences between similar products and fillings. The findings show that making sandwiches healthier and with less salt is certainly possible, yet concerningly not always actioned.
Key findings
- 44% of sandwiches would receive a red ‘high’ salt warning under front‑of‑pack labelling guidelines.
- 1 in 4 sandwiches (25%) are classified as less healthy, meaning they would face restrictions on advertising and in‑store promotion.
- More than 1 in 10 (12%) sandwiches fail to meet government salt reduction targets that businesses were expected to meet two years ago, and 1 in 10 (10%) fail to meet calorie reduction targets .
In the UK, adults currently consume 40% more salt than recommended, largely due to the high salt levels hidden in everyday foods – such as sandwiches, which are one of the leading contributors of salt in adults and children alike. Too much salt raises blood pressure, a leading cause of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease, and places immense and avoidable pressure on the NHS. With 11.5 billion sandwiches eaten in the UK every year, even small reductions in salt could have a major impact on population health.
Sonia Pombo, Head of Research and Impact at Action on Salt & Sugar, based at Queen Mary University of London said:
“Most people choose sandwiches for lunch for their simplicity, convenience and affordability. But what they’re actually eating can be a full day’s worth of salt hidden between two slices of bread.
“More than 20 years after the first set of salt reduction targets were introduced, it’s frankly unacceptable that some companies continue to sell sandwiches that exceed an adult’s daily limit in one go. Voluntary action has been allowed to drift for too long, and the result is a food environment that continues to put public health at risk. The Government must now step in with tough, mandatory measures, because leaving this to industry goodwill has clearly failed.”
Further details and a full breakdown of methodology can be found within the Sandwiches Report 2026 [PDF 7,725KB]
