🥕 Snack Smart: Cut Hidden Salt & Sugar

Every snack you choose can support your wellbeing - or quietly work against it. Becoming aware of what’s really in our food is the first step toward reducing stroke risk and making healthier choices.

📢 A recent review by Action on Salt & Sugar (2025), based at Queen Mary University of London, reveals that many snacks marketed as “better for you” — such as crisps, popcorn, and nuts — actually contain far more salt and sugar than expected.

Full report: https://www.actiononsalt.org.uk/media/action-on-salt/surveys/Crisps,-Nuts-&-Popcorn-Opportunities-for-Reformulation_March2025.pdf

🔍 Key Findings & Worst Offenders

🍿 Popcorn

Over 1 in 4 products contain too much salt, and 2 in 5 are high in sugar
Morrisons Market Street Toffee Flavour Popcorn: 59.1g sugar per 100g. That’s 7+ teaspoons of sugar per serving - more than a child’s recommended daily intake.

🥔 Crisps

Around 1 in 3 products would receive a red salt warning
Eat Real Lentil Chips Chilli & Lemon: 3.6g salt per 100g. That’s saltier than seawater.

🥜 Nuts

Plain nuts = excellent choice
Many flavoured nuts are high in salt and/or sugar, even in small servings
Forest Feast Slow Roasted Colossal Cashews: 2.6g salt per 100g - over double the government’s salt target

❤️ What You Can Do

✔ Read nutrition labels

✔ Don’t rely on buzzwords like “natural”, “lentil”, “veggie”, “air-popped”

✔ Choose plain nuts, fruit, veg sticks, yoghurt, oatcakes, or uncoated popcorn

✔ Keep processed snacks occasional, not daily!

👉 Smart snacking isn’t just a habit - it’s stroke prevention in action. Make your next choice count!

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