Action on Salt and Sugar

'Buy one, get one free' deals for unhealthy food banned in supermarkets Crisps, sweets, chocolate and fizzy drinks will be covered by restrictions starting in England.

🗣️ Food retailers owe it to their customers to make healthier choices easier and free from subtle influence and marketing coercion.

These new multibuy restrictions are a vital step towards that, and although long overdue we strongly welcome their introduction this week. 🙌
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Around 20 million lives are lost each year due to cardiovascular disease. But 80% of cases are preventable. Reducing salt is one of the best ways we can reduce this risk.

⚠️ Over 20 million lives are lost to cardiovascular disease each year.

Many are preventable, yet salt’s role in high blood pressure & heart risk remains overlooked.

This #WorldHeartDay we’re proud to support the World Heart Federation to encourage better heart health ❤️👇
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Job advert - campaigns intern at Recipe for Change

🌟 Exciting Opportunity! 🌟

The #RecipeForChange team - led by our partners at @sustainweb.org - is on the lookout for a passionate and dedicated Campaigns Intern! 🍽️

Closing date: 13 October 2025
Apply: www.sustainweb.org/jobs/campaig...

Graham MacGregor obituary Medical researcher and health advocate who challenged the food industry to use less salt and sugar

Our late Chair, Professor Graham MacGregor worked tirelessly to advocate for a worldwide reduction in salt and sugar. His work continues to guide us and impact public health today.

Read this excellent tribute by @theguardian.com on his life and achievements.
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4 Professorial Chairs for the MacGregor Centre for Global Blood Pressure Control | Veredus QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON  4 Professorial Chairs for the MacGregor Centre for Global Blood Pressure Control  London Competitive Remuneration Package Chair Appointments at the New MacGregor Centr...

🚨 @qmul.bsky.social is hiring 4 world-leading Professional Chairs at the new MacGregor Centre for Global Blood Pressure Control!

Play a pivotal role in tackling cardiovascular health and high blood pressure outcomes, creating a worldwide impact.

Deadline: Monday 3rd Nov
🔗 tinyurl.com/m48y3aen

The ‘diet traps’ sending your blood pressure sky high - & surprising fixes YOU likely already know that sprinkling loads of salt on your food can drive up blood pressure. But even if you leave the shaker on the table, you could be gorging on hidden amounts in bread, break…

High blood pressure is the top cause of preventable deaths in the UK, and the hidden salt in everyday foods is a major dietary risk factor behind it.

From processed meats to cereals, our research consistently shows foods CAN be made healthier, its now just a question of when ⌛

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'Public Attitudes Survey 2025' infographic by Eating Better

🆕 29% of people report reducing processed meat consumption - an encouraging shift, as our research shows 2 in 3 processed meats are high in salt, a key driver of heart disease and stroke.

But more needs to be done. Read the @eatingbetter.bsky.social report to find out 👉 tinyurl.com/3pr5wtrz

'Follow the Carrot' report infographic

📢 New #FollowTheCarrot report from @childrensfood.bsky.social and @sustainweb.org shows how expanding #FreeSchoolMeals could mean 540 million extra plates of healthy meals every year, improving children’s health and education 🥦🥕

Find out more: bit.ly/4nroz7j

Roughly 5 million UK adults could be living with undiagnosed high blood pressure – and excess salt is one of the biggest drivers.

This #KnowYourNumbersWeek take the time to:
🩸 Check your blood pressure: tinyurl.com/p5whcrv3
💡 Learn about the impact of salt: tinyurl.com/4vr5e28r

Advancing Sugar Reduction & Reformulation Summit - Dr Kawther Hashem guest speaker

📈 As awareness of the health impacts of excess sugar grows, the demand for reduced-sugar products is rising rapidly – so how can food and beverage companies adapt?

We’re joining alongside world-class sugar reduction experts to discuss!

Register here 👉 sugar-reduction-reformulation.com

🚨 The gov have opened a new consultation on the banning of sales of high-caffeinated energy drinks to children under 16 – a move we greatly welcome 🙌

Its an important first step but its success will balance crucially on its enforcement. Read more info below 👇

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Professor Graham MacGregor CBE

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our Chair, Professor Graham MacGregor, a tireless champion for public health who advanced salt and sugar reduction in the UK and worldwide.

Read our full tribute: www.actiononsugar.org/news-centre/...

Morrisons’ Christmas chocolate tubs deal angers health campaigners ahead of bogof ban Morrisons said this week it was helping customers stock up on family favourites ahead of Christmas

🗣️ Why are we pushing Christmas chocolate tubs in August?

This simply looks like a last-minute dash to secure sales before the multi-buy restrictions come in and we deserve better - retailers must pivot their deals towards healthier staples and real value for families 👇

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Last week saw the release of the long-awaited commercial baby food and drink guidelines – but what does this now mean for families of infants and babies? 🔎

What's included in the new guidance, and how effective are we expecting it to be? Find out here: www.actiononsugar.org/news-centre/...

🚨 New baby food guidelines announced 🚨

These long-awaited guidelines focus on reducing the excessive levels of salt and sugar within commercial baby foods and promote more transparent nutrition labelling.

👉 Read the gov announcement: www.gov.uk/government/n...

This legislation is an important first step towards enabling healthier food choices - but real impact needs broader action in the form of better food environments and affordable healthier options. In the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, future policies must keep this front of mind.

2 - Most shoppers didn’t notice any change to their shopping environment.

➡️ Meaning the legislation worked quietly in the background (exactly as intended!) and had minimal impact on how people perceived their shopping experience.

1 - Households with children or experiencing food insecurity are more receptive to price deals and product placements.

➡️ This suggests that restrictions on volume-based promotions like “3 for 2” or “buy one get one free” could positively impact the way these households shop.

Customer awareness and perceptions of the high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) placement legislation and impacts on self-reported food purchasing Legislation in England restricts the placement of high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS) products in stores and online. This is the first study to investig…

💡This new study from the @UniversityLeeds on consumer attitudes towards in-store restrictions on unhealthy food placements highlights two very important points...

📄Read the full paper: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

We’re delighted to be joining PAN International to explore how we can best tackle obesity prevention and turn nutrition evidence into direct policy and action 🚀

🗓️ 9th September, 1 - 2:30pm
🙋 Register here to join us! tinyurl.com/2s56ka6v

Visit our website for tips, guides, and resources on salt and sugar reduction

How can we help individuals make healthier food choices? 🥬

👉 Explore our websites for free educational resources on salt and sugar, info on health impacts, and guidance on reducing intake.

Salt: www.actiononsalt.org.uk/resources/le...
Sugar: www.actiononsugar.org/resources/

Walkers makes core crisps non-HFSS in salt reduction coup Walkers has also expanded its core lineup with variants inspired by global cuisines

This level of salt reduction across some of the most popular crisps is fantastic to see and proves the impact and feasibility of reformulation 👏👏

We hope to see more food companies follow suit and prioritise consumer health through purposeful salt reduction.
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Eating chips regularly raises risk of type 2 diabetes by 20%, study finds Baking, boiling or mashing potatoes raises risk by 5% and replacing with whole grains lowers risk significantly

The way we prepare food and the salt that we add can have a massive difference on nutritional quality and our health. 🥔

We explain more in this latest @theguardian.com article and highlight the healthier swaps individuals can make 👇

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The past few months have been incredibly busy with policy announcements and new reports and insights! 🚀✨

Learn more from the latest newsletter out now!
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Ultra-processed baby foods ‘set children up for life of obesity’ A study finds that parents are being misled by the food industry into thinking processed baby food is healthy for their infants

Did you know...snack bars targeted at babies had on average TWICE as much sugar as a digestive biscuit 🍪

Parents are being consistently misled by the food industry, and we urgently need tougher measures across all infant nutrition and marketing standards.

Read the story 👇
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Salt warning labels in the out-of-home food sector: online and real-world randomised controlled trials in the UK Salt warning labels on restaurant menus are a promising policy option to discourage high salt intake in the out-of-home food sector. Further real-world studies are needed to optimise potential policy ...

Could explicit salt warning labels on our menus encourage healthier food choices? 🤔🍽️

This new research from @beckyevans.bsky.social and @liverpooluni.bsky.social reveals how such labels may be vital to improving public health.

📖 Read the full paper below!
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Is natural salt healthier for us than table salt?

Spoiler alert, unless its lower-sodium salt then probably not.

We explain in @theguardian.com below! 👇

The potential health impact and healthcare cost savings of different sodium reduction strategies in Canada - BMC Public Health Background High dietary sodium is the main dietary risk factor for non-communicable diseases due to its impact on cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death globally. The objective of the stu...

🔎 What are the potential health and cost savings from salt reduction strategies in Canada? The answer – a lot!

This new study models the impact of sodium reduction strategies, highlighting the importance of mandatory measures to improve public health.

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🚨 Poor nutrition in infants is consistently being overlooked and it’s setting up children for a myriad of diet-related conditions 🚨

We're proud to have supported this report and now demand urgent change to improve infant dietary nutrition and health.

Read the full statement 👇
tinyurl.com/r5khyrf2

The gov have outlined their goals for the new Food Strategy with 10 key priority outcomes ✅

Now we wait to see exactly HOW the Food Strategy will achieve these goals, let’s hope its with clear, uninfluenced and preventative policies - not just words...

Learn more 👇
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