Jan 08, 2026
3 min read
UK adults consume 40% more salt than recommended, according to new research, increasing the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.
Adults in England consume 40 percent more salt than recommended, according to a new study, raising their risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes.
Adults in England are eating more salt than they might realize - up to 155 crisps a week, according to new research from the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
The charity said this was equivalent to the amount of salt in around 22 packets of ready-to-eat crisps every day, warning that most people did not know they were consuming such large amounts.
BHF senior nutritionist Dale Stanford said: "Most of the salt we eat is hidden in the foods we buy, such as breads, cereals, ready-to-eat sauces and ready meals, so it's hard to know how much salt we're using.
“This is bad news for heart health because consuming too much salt significantly increases the risk of high blood pressure, a leading cause of heart attack, stroke and other serious illnesses.
Why excessive salt can be dangerous for the body
Health experts warn that excessive salt intake remains one of the most severe and preventable cardiovascular health risks.
High blood pressure, or high blood pressure, is the single biggest cause of heart attack and stroke worldwide, responsible for one in six deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
It is often called the "silent killer" because it is not always accompanied by noticeable symptoms.
A third of adults in the UK are thought to have high blood pressure, but around five million people don't know they have the condition, according to the BHF.In Europe, it affects about a quarter of the population.
Despite longstanding public health advice, average salt consumption in England remains above recommended levels.Adults consume around 8.4 g of salt per day - around 40 per cent more than the authorities' recommended maximum of 6 g.
The BHF said the amount of excess salt alone was equivalent to the salt content of six bags of crisps.A typical 32 to 40 gram bag of salty chips contains about 0.38 grams of salt.
According to the WHO, evidence shows that a 25 percent reduction in salt intake through a strong public health policy could prevent 900,000 deaths from heart disease by 2030 in the WHO European region, which includes 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia.
Health campaigners say the results of a new UK study on salt highlight the need for stronger government intervention to reduce salt in everyday foods, including stricter restrictions and penalties for manufacturers who do not comply.
"The government must step in and encourage manufacturers to remove excess salt from our food, making it easier for families to make healthy choices," Stanford said.
Changes to fast food advertising in the UK
Alongside calls to change food preparation methods, the UK government has moved to restrict the marketing of unhealthy products, particularly aimed at children.
The United States' ban on junk food advertising began on January 5 as part of the government's efforts to reduce childhood obesity by 2030. The law prohibits foods and beverages high in fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) from being broadcast on TV before 9pm, and always online.
These restrictions apply to products considered to be the biggest contributors to childhood obesity, including soft drinks, chocolate, sweets, pizza and ice cream.Also included are some breakfast cereals and porridges, sweet bread products, and certain main meals and sandwiches.
The new regulations are among the toughest measures against unhealthy eating in Europe and have been welcomed by health professionals.
"Of course more needs to be done, but today's legislation is a significant step forward in protecting people from industry and reducing the number of people living and dying from preventable diseases and illnesses," said Alice Wiseman, vice-president of the UK Association of Chief Public Health Officers.
