Call to end adding salt to pork

Products have been found with a third of recommended salt

Supermarkets should stop adding salt and water to pork chops because it can lead to high blood pressure, say trading standards officers.

Officers in Shropshire found that compared to raw pork, pork with added water has higher levels of salt.

It has sparked health concerns because high blood pressure can increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

Officers said supermarkets should "put health before profits".

The study by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) and the local authority earlier this year found that water was being added to some raw pork steaks, chops and joints.

The industry should put the health of consumers before profits and stop the practice immediately David Walker Shropshire County Council

Some were marketed as premium "succulent" products and sold at premium price alongside genuine raw pork steaks.

David Walker, chief trading standards officer for Shropshire County Council, said some pork products should come with a health warning as they could have serious long-term implications for the nation's health.

"The food industry has always maintained that it acts responsibly towards its customers," he said.

"On that basis the industry should put the health of consumers before profits and stop the practice immediately.

"If the industry fails to respond positively, we will be calling upon the Food Standards Agency to formally intervene and prohibit this practice."

'Take action'

In the survey last month, a typical pork loin steak was found to contain sodium equivalent to 5% of the recommended daily salt intake of 6g.

But the same sized pork steak with added water was found to contain up to six times more sodium - or 30.5% of the recommended daily intake of salt.

Ron Gainsford, chief executive of TSI, said: "Based on the worrying results of the Shropshire survey and the government's advice to reduce salt intake, we would urge supermarkets and manufacturers to heed our concerns and take action."

A Sainsbury's spokeswoman said its pork chops did not contain added salt and water.

"None of our Sainsbury's own-label fresh pork contains added water or bran," she said.

A spokesman for Tesco said it used clear labelling to inform customers if pork products contained added water.

He said: "We give more information than anyone else, including the catering sector, so customers can make an informed choice on what they buy.

"But we are going to go even further by giving the salt levels on the packaging as well.

"Adding this water keeps the meat succulent and tender and regular customer tastings tell us it provides a better quality product."