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Consumer Council warns Hongkongers of health risks posed by high-sodium cold cut meats, with some popular dishes accounting for entire daily salt intake
- Many popular local dishes featuring processed meats account for nearly entire recommended daily intake of salt for adults, watchdog says
- Most of the ham and turkey products tested failed to meet nutritional labelling regulations, new study reveals
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Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has warned of the health risks posed by high sodium levels in cold cut meats, while more than half of the ham and turkey products it tested failed to meet nutritional labelling regulations.
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The Consumer Council study published on Wednesday revealed that many popular local dishes featuring the processed meats accounted for nearly the entire recommended daily intake of salt for an adult.
The watchdog found that more than 95 per cent of samples qualified as “high protein foods” but over 90 per cent were also high in sodium.
It tested a total of 30 cold cut meats, of which 23 were ham products and seven were turkey slices.
Dr Lui Wing-cheong, vice-chairman of the council’s research and testing committee, said consumers should not rely on ham and turkey slices as the main source of protein in their diet to avoid the increased risks of high blood pressure associated with excessive sodium intake.
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