How to enjoy a pie (not as easy as it looks)

Do you like pies?

Me too. But a survey carried out for National Salt Awareness Week 2011, shows that some of them are dangerously high in salt. 

In the UK, over twice as many men as women die prematurely (under the age of 75) of heart disease, heart failure and stroke. Many of these deaths could have been prevented by eating less salt. You should eat no more than 6g a day (about a teaspoon). The table below shows the results of the survey so you can make healthier pie choices. Red's for danger. Go for green.

Consensus Action on Salt and Health’s (CASH) who carried out the survey say that although there has been good progress in reducing the salt content of pies available in supermarkets, 1 in 10 products still fail to meet the 2010 salt reduction targets. It pays to shop around.  The highest supermarket pie in the survey - a Waitrose Steak, Mushroom & Red Wine Pie - contains more than three times as much salt as the lowest supermarket products.

Skip gravy

Katharine Jenner, Nutritionist and Campaign Director of CASH says that when it comes to pies, 'just a few simple changes such as reading the labels in supermarkets or skipping the gravy in pub meals could help you stay within the healthy recommendations.'

Graham MacGregor, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at The Wolfson Institute and Chairman of CASH points out that cutting your salt intake from the current maler average of 10g a day to the recommended maximum of 6g a day could reduce your risk of having a stroke by up to 20% and of having a heart attack by up to 12%.

Eight great pie tips for reducing salt:

• Stick to supermarket pies and check the label when choosing them
• Avoid pies with salty ingredients such as ham, bacon and cheese
• When eating out, don’t use all of the gravy as it will add unnecessary salt to your meal
• When eating out, request a jacket potato instead of mash
• When buying gravy granules, choose reduced salt options
• If making pie at home, use lots of low salt ingredients such as low fat crème fraîche, chicken and vegetables and go for filo pastry as this is lower in fat
• Make your own mash at home!
• For low salt recipes, download the Men’s Recipe Booklet from Action On Salt.