andsome Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 The Co-op are to label all shelves in a few supermarkets for a trial period, showing salt, and fat content of food on those shelves, and whether the content is high or low. I am aware that packeted foods usually show a sodium content, but that this is not the same as a salt content. Does anyone actually know for sure, exactly what the relationship between sodium content and salt content is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Salt is Sodium chloride (NaCl), and therefore sodium only makes up half (in round terms) of the salt. However the amount of sodium swilling around in the world is quite large. In food it is present in various quantities in most natural ingredients and also in much greater quantities in synthetic flavourings, dyes and other enhancements such as the much maligned monosodium glutamate (MSG). As a result of all this you can be sure that what is printed on tins/packets/shelves etc. will tell only as much as "they" want you to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Salt is sodium chloride (NaCl) made up of equal atomic mass of sodium and chlorine. The atomic weight of sodium is 23 and chlorine 35.5 so the combined mass (molecular mass) of sodium chloride is 23 + 23.5 = 58.5. This means that 23 parts sodium is contained in 58.5 parts salt. In other words, salt contains 39.3% of sodium (near enough).Hope that doesn't seem like a lecture :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 What strikes me as odd is that salt has been sitting underneath Cheshire for millions of years. The Coop has it dug out and cleaned up then, for some reason, it goes into the shops with a two year "best before" date on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 What strikes me as odd is that salt has been sitting underneath Cheshire for millions of years. The Coop has it dug out and cleaned up then, for some reason, it goes into the shops with a two year "best before" date on it.Yes I had similar thoughts about some "stuff" which appeared in our fridge one day (ex ASDA I think). It claimed to be "FRESH SOURED CREAM" pasturised and had an expiry date on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted September 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Thanks for your answers. What I am actually after is a formula if possible, to convert stated grammes of sodium in a food to actual grammes of salt. The kids next door to us eat far more junk food than is good for them. When my nine year old granddaughter comes to stay with us she plays with them next door, and sometimes comes home and quite happily informs us that she has had two packets of crisps. I would like to be able to point out to her exactly haw much salt that involves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 I am afraid that what you are after is not possible. As I explained above there will be lots of Sodium there that is NOT in salt. Only that which is combined solely with Chlorine is salt. And its not much use going for the Chlorine content either because that can be in there combined to things other than Sodium. In advanced chemistry it is refered to as a buggers muddle. You are left guessing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted September 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Basically than the manufacturers do NOT want us to know just how much of the flavour of their product relies upon the salt content. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Multiply the declared sodium content by 2.54 to get the salt equivalent. As catgate says, it's only an approximation due to the presence of sodium in other components of the foodstuff.With something like crisps and other junk foods, though, most of the sodium will be present as salt.I would like to add here that two years ago my grand-daughters came over to the UK after living in Canada for all their life (they were 4 and 7 at the time). They were eating just what you would expect - burgers, fries, Wieners (?) and nothing real at all. They were revolting children in all respects. Now, after Pops training, they do not eat Big Macs, junk food, shakes or any of that rubbish. Best of all, they are now very nice polite and pleasant girls. It does require the trainer to have had heart bypasses, arthritis and sometimes need to move around in a wheelchair and similar health problems but, it worked wonders in getting them to see the light :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted September 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Thanks for that answer pops. Regarding grandchildren, a friend of ours has a daughter in California. They visit there several times a year, and much as he loves them dearly, he does not like to travel any distance in the car with them. He says that their manners are insufferable, and most times their behaviour is nothing short of bratish. Our daughter lived in California until our Granddaughter was one year old. You wouldn't believe the stupid Californian rubbish that she brought home with her. Thank goodness she has seen the error of her ways, and nine year old Zoe is now a credit to the family, as I feel sure seven month old Jazmin will also be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Multiply the declared sodium content by 2.54 to get the salt equivalent.This can only be really used in things like crisps. The following are a few of the sodium compounds used in food to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the foodSodium nitrite ....preserver, sodium saccheride/saccharine ....sweetener, sodium carboximethyl cellulose....thickener, sodium bicarbonate...raising agent, monosodium glutamate...flavour enhancer. The list is quite long and we have not yet touched colourings.The best judge of salt content is the tongue, but even that is not fool proof because potassium chloride (a much safer option) is almost indistinguishable from sodium chloride. (and anyway TESCO do not let you go poking your tongue into unopened tins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted September 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 (and anyway TESCO do not let you go poking your tongue into unopened tins.Why on earth not? As long as you open them first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Multiply the declared sodium content by 2.54 to get the salt equivalent.This can only be really used in things like crisps. Note I did qualify my statement as quoted with the rider about crisps and other junk foods.I should point out as well that the sodium content, rather than salt, is quoted on ingredient listings to take account of the different proportion of sodium in the other additives, some of which have been mentioned by catgate. The salt equivalent can still be calculated by multiplying the sodium level by 2.54. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D4\/!d Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 When my nine year old granddaughter comes to stay with us she plays with them next door, and sometimes comes home and quite happily informs us that she has had two packets of crisps. I would like to be able to point out to her exactly haw much salt that involves. you won't stop kids joining in with their peers and doing what they are doing, but you could try filling her up with something such as a banana before she goes out to play. Maybe a posh banana and honey sandwich on wholemeal bread. yummy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted September 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 I only bake the best quality bread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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