Salty soups 'increase cancer risk'

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A single serving of some leading brand soups contains half the recommended daily maximum intake of salt, said Dr Rachel Thompson, science programme manager for the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF).

Soups are one of the "worst culprits" for hidden salt, she said, and recommended people make their own low-salt versions.

Salt is known to increase blood pressure and the risk of stroke and heart disease, but scientists also believe it is a cause of stomach cancer.

Dr Thompson said that, apart from watching the salt content in soups, another way to keep salt levels down was to reduce intake of salt-preserved foods, such as hams and sausages, as well as pizza, some ready meals and breakfast cereals.

The recommended intake of salt for adults is no more than 6g a day, although people currently consume an average of 8.6g daily.

Dr Thompson said: "Soups are one of the worst culprits for hidden salt. Some brands of soup have as much as half the recommended daily intake per serving. Fresh vegetable-based soups tend to have less salt than tinned cream-based soups that include bacon or ham, but even some of the healthier brands of vegetable soups still contain over a third of our recommended daily intake. This is why it's so important for people to always check the labels of products."

A spokesman for the Salt Association, which represents the industry, said a report by leading toxicological experts had found no grounds for believing that a reduction in the average daily salt intake in the Western diet would have any effect on the risk of developing any form of cancer.

He said the target of 6g a day was "not based on any sound science" and some studies were showing that reducing salt may be increasing the risk of heart disease.

He added: "We have repeatedly asked the Food Standards Agency to mount a full, long-term study to check the health outcomes of salt reduction. They have refused to do so. This means that the UK health policy is based on questionable science which may actually be risking the lives of significant sections of the population."