ASDA takes salt out of tinned veg

168 Tonnes To Be Removed From Customers' Diets

ASDA announced it was set to be the first supermarket to remove salt from its entire range of tinned veg - as a result customers will consume 168 tonnes less salt each year.

From today (1 September 2005) ASDA customers can buy sliced carrots, baby sweetcorn and garden peas without any added salt. The supermarket says the removal process, which started in May 2005 will be completed by the end of July 2006*.

Contrary to popular believe salt is not needed as a preservative in the canning process. Heating and sealing the contents of a veg can does exactly that.

"From marrowfat peas to potatoes, green beans to kidney beans the removal of salt from all our tinned veg is great news for the health of customers. What's more they have never tasted so good," said ASDA's head nutritionist Sue Malcolm.

The removal of salt from ASDA's tinned veg is part of on-going campaign called the ASDA Food Pledge. The retailer is committed to making all its own label food and drink healthier, with no compromise to the price, taste or quality of the product.

In January ASDA's entire range of Smartprice economy food was reformulated to make it more nutritious. The supermarket significantly reduced the amount of sugar, salt and fat in economy products like soups, beef burgers, biscuits and ready meals. As a result, this year ASDA customers will consume 180 tonnes less fat, 130 tonnes less sugar and 189 tonnes less salt.