A new report has found that up to 70% of snacks bought as part of supermarket meal deals contain “dangerously high” levels of sugar, salt, or saturated fat.
The report published by Action on Salt – a group of scientists from Queen Mary University of London who are concerned with salt and its effects on health – found that some meal deal snacks contribute to a third of an adult’s maximum daily recommended salt intake, with a couple of the worst offenders including biscuits, cakes, and crisps.
For the study, nutritionists analysed the contents of 360 individual products which are found listed as snacks in supermarket meal deals.
Authors of the study explained that three in 10 products studied were found to contain high levels of salt, with the worst-offending snacks for salt intake including Cornish pasties, sausage rolls, Mini Cheddar crackers, and chicken bites.
The study also found that in each of the eight high street supermarkets and food chains analysed, the chicken sandwich or wrap being sold as part of its meal deal combo had “higher salt levels than a McDonald’s Big Mac and fries”.
The report stated that chicken and bacon sandwiches were often the saltiest meal deal product from each supermarket, with the Asda Chicken and Bacon Caesar Triple, and the Tesco Chicken Club Sandwich both containing two grams of salt, and the chicken and bacon sandwichs from Boots, Co-op, and Sainsbury’s all contained between 1.74 grams and 1.93 grams of salt as well.
Out of all the high street supermarkets analysed, according to Action on Salt, Sainsbury’s ranked most favourably with a “greater overall compliance to the salt reduction targets”.
Salt is known to raise blood pressure and can contribute towards strokes and heart attacks.
Action on Salt described the findings as “concerning” given the fact that one in three Brits apparently purchase a meal deal at least twice a week, and is calling for stronger measures to be put in place to improve the nutritional quality of food.
This includes enforcing the salt reduction targets, and for only the snacks known as healthier to be included in all meal deals.
Nutritionists analysed the contents of 360 individual products listed as snacks in supermarket meal deals / Credit: ASDA
Speaking more on the findings of the report, Sheena Bhageerutty – Nutritionist at Action on Salt – said: “Without doubt, meal deals are hugely popular especially amongst the nation’s workforce looking for a convenient and ‘value for money’ lunch, yet unbeknown to many consumers, these meal combos and snacks are often exceedingly high in salt, which means an adult can consume their maximum daily recommended salt intake in just one meal without even knowing it.
“Rather than trying to ‘upsell’ us on salt, saturated fat and sugar, CEOs of food retailers must act more responsibly by setting strict internal standards including only healthier snack options as part of the ‘deal’.”
Def Leppard announce HUGE arena gig in Manchester next year
Thomas Melia
English Glam Rock band Def Leppard have announced a brand new UK tour which features a stop in one of Manchester’s big arenas next year.
Known for hits like ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’, ‘Animal’, ‘Love Bites’ and more, Def Leppard are back on the road and they’re heading out on a UK tour.
The band has achieved worldwide acclaim since entering the rock scene with their first-ever single, ‘Wasted’, back in 1979, and their success resulted in getting inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
In 2023, Def Leppard teamed up with fellow metalheads Motley Crüe for the ultimate ‘Rock of Ages’, playing a spell-bounding gig at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 people.
The rock legends are continuing their career-highlight streak as now they’re about to play one of Manchester’s largest arenas, Co-op Live, sending 23,500 fans into ‘Hysteria’.
This upcoming Def Leppard UK tour sees the band making their way to Glasgow, Sheffield, London and Birmingham before visiting the music capital of the North.
The love for these rockers isn’t slowing down either, as their latest album ‘Drastic Symphonies’, a collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, scored Def Leppard their highest charting record in 32 years, debuting at number 4.
Fans will be over the moon to know that the five-piece visiting Co-op Live next year includes the same band lineup since 1992, with Joe Elliot, Rick Allen, Phil Collen, Rick Savage and Vivian Campbell playing out on the night.
The Rock Brigade will always make sure to remember Steve Clark, founding member and adorned- ‘Riffmaster’, and although the guitarist won’t be playing this innovative live music venue, fans will still give it their all for the current ‘Gods of War’.
These Sheffield-formed musicians have sold more than 110 million albums worldwide, so there will be no ‘Foolin’ around when it comes to screaming their lyrics at the top of your lungs next summer.
Def Leppard are coming to Co-op Live in Manchester on Monday 5 July, with tickets going on sale from 10am on Friday 5 September
Bolton man jailed for life after killing ‘vulnerable’ woman and hiding her body in his shed
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed for life after murdering a vulnerable woman and then proceeding to hide her body in a shed at his house in Bolton.
Christopher Barlow killed Mariann Borocz back in December 2024 after randomly meeting her at a shop and inviting her to his house, before killing her and then going on to dump her body in a locked shed in his garden.
55-year-old Mariann, who was originally from Hungary, was reported missing on Sunday 15 December having been last seen alive in the early hours of the previous day.
During the police search and investigation, CCTV showed Barlow following Mariann into a shop near his house and then back out again, and after Barlow was arrested on suspicion of assault on 23 December, officers found the keys to his shed – which is when they, sadly, discovered Mariann’s body.
Barlow was charged with murder, but the 63-year-old first denied this charge, and also denied any contact with Mariann.
The case was then handed over to Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Major Incident Team, led by Detective Chief Inspector Tony Platten.
#JAILED | This is the moment Christopher Barlow was arrested for the murder of Mariann Borocz.
We made extensive efforts to locate Mariann, and our thoughts continue to be with her family.
A three-week trial then began at Manchester Crown Court, and when forensic evidence linked Barlow to Mariann’s body, he then when on to admit during the trial that he had invited her into his house, and found her not breathing in his kitchen about 40 minutes later.
Despite maintaining he did dot murder her, the jury returned its guilty verdict after less than a day of deliberation.
Last week, Barlow was sentenced to life in prison and must serve a minimum term of 20 years behind bars.
Detective Sergeant Fiona Manning described this as a ‘harrowing’ investigation and subsequent trial for Mariann’s family.
“Barlow befriended Mariann and she believed she could trust him,” DS Manning said, “That could not have been further from reality.”
DS Manning then assured that GMP remains ‘steadfast’ in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of women in Greater Manchester‘s communities, and will continue to work ‘tirelessly’ to uphold justice.
She concluded: “Women should be able to go out freely and without fear that something may happen to them.”
Emily Sergeant -
15th March 2022 
