Researchers Find Massive Divide Between Salty and Salt Conscious Foods

US researchers have found that some foods containing salty cheeses can have six times more sodium than the least salty type.

There was also found to be a 14-fold difference in salt content within the sliced meat category and a 100-fold difference within the frozen potato product category, reports Reuters.

Nearly two thirds of the 33 food categories had average sodium concentrations that were higher than the maximum standards set by the UK Food Standards Agency.

Sauces and spreads, at 1,283mg per 100g, and processed meats, at 846mg per 100g, were the categories with the highest average sodium content.

Sodium content was lowest for cereals at 206mg per 100g and fruits and vegetables at 211mg per 100g.

Foods are considered to be high in sodium when they contain more than 500mg of sodium for every 100g, while foods with sodium content below 120mg of sodium for every 100g are classified as low sodium.