‘Healthy croissants? Take with pinch of salt’- James Meikle, guardian.co.uk, 30/10/08
According to a campaign group that aims to reduce salt in diets, sweet pastries sold at high street coffee chains has a significant contribution to busting the 6g of salt daily target set for adults by the FSA. For example, a survey by Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash) found that a Starbuck’s cinnamon swirl contained more than twice the amount of salt contained in a rasher of bacon.
High salt intakes increase the risk of high blood pressure, and therefore a stroke or heart attack. About three-quarters of the salt we eat is already from the food we buy, the rest added during cooking and at the table. The FSA says the average daily adult salt intake is 8.6g, (down from 9.5g in 2001) and wants to make FSA targets for different types of food tougher. However these only apply to food bought from shops. Although the FSA in now turning its attention to caterers and food shops, Cash believes the majority of people who eat breakfast out are unaware of how salty it can be.
‘Although full English fry-ups may contain enough salt for a whole day’s “allowance”, there were cooked breakfasts that could remain on the menu, said Cash. One poached egg, one tomato, mushrooms and a slice of toast and butter could contain as little as 0.7g of salt. Even two sausages, a fried egg, one tomato and a slice of toast and butter, might, at 2.3g, be little more salty than a coffee shop latte and pastry.
Carrie Bolt, nutritionist with Cash, said: “When eating breakfast away from home, customers shunning greasy spoons for coffee shop breakfasts could actually be eating more salt and be better off choosing lower salt options from the greasy spoon menu.”‘
I believe the reason why many people who eat their breakfast out choose food from high street coffee shops rather than greasy spoon cafes, are not only because they think its healthier, but because it is more convenient. You can buy pastries and muffins quickly and eat on the go, whilst you would have to wait a couple of minutes and eat in-store for food in a greasy spoons cafe. Also, those who like eating in cafes like me, probably likes the ‘posh’ atmosphere that coffee shops have over that of a greasy spoons cafe.
If you take aside the fact that an English breakfast is greasy and consider for a moment, it’s not surprising if it is more nutritious than a pastry since it contains vegetables.
The headline is written in a question format, and it stirs curiosity from readers, making many people read the article. The article would interest those who regularly eat food from cafes, not just people who eat breakfast out. The wording of the headline is slightly misleading since it makes readers think croissants are healthy although later they understand it was being hypocritical. Although the article did not contain any pictures, it was easy to follow. It was surprising to find that pastries and muffins were talked to be unhealthy in the article not because of their fat content as one might expect, but because of their salt levels.
