AWASH wants health warning on Angry Angus Burger

The Australian Division of the World Action on Salt and Health (AWASH) is calling for a high salt warning on the new Hungry Jack’s Double Angry Angus Burger.

According to Hungry Jack’s website their new beef burger contains 5.6g of salt – nearly one and a half times the recommended daily amount for adults. Besides dangerously high levels of salt, the Angry Angus Burger also provides 3532 kJ and 26g of saturated fat to the person eating it.

In a statement released to the media early this morning, Professor Bruce Neal, Senior Director at The George Institute and Chair of AWASH said, “Three quarters of burger products from leading fast food chains in Australia provide more than half the recommended daily amount of salt in one hit. Products such as the Angry Angus Burger should carry a high salt warning.”

“A number of fast food companies in Australia have been reducing salt levels and these companies are to be commended. However the launch of products such as Hungry Jack’s Double Angry Angus Burger, seriously undermines the industry’s efforts so far,” he said.

Previous research from The George Institute for International Health in Sydney showed that until now, the worst burger menu items have provided up to 25g of saturated fat and 4.1g of salt. McDonald’s Mighty Angus Burger also provides high levels of salt, but is lower than the Hungry Jack’s version, with 3.4g salt per serving.

Hungry Jack’s was the focus of controversy in late 2008 following the limited release of their Quad Burger containing 4 beef patties, 4 slices of cheese and 2 rashers of bacon – providing over 70g of fat and 4520kJ.

“Hungry Jack’s appears to have little commitment to the health of their consumers. In the context of our national obesity crisis this type of product is reckless,” Professor Neal said.

The National Preventative Health Taskforce launched by the Federal Government in September 2009, opposes promotion of foods that are high in saturated fat, sugar and salt and recommends setting salt content targets as a strategy to improve the health of Australians. In Finland, foods that contain high levels of salt must, by law, display a high salt warning on the front of the pack.

With food labelling in Australia currently a hot topic, AWASH maintains that products such as the Hungry Jack’s Angry Angus highlight the need for government to establish maximum salt targets for processed foods and consider introducing high salt warnings for foods with high levels of salt.

The Australian Division of World Action on Salt and Health (AWASH) describes itself as a growing network of individuals and organisations concerned with salt and its effects on health. The mission of AWASH is to improve the health of Australians by achieving a gradual population-wide reduction in dietary salt consumption that will reduce cardiovascular diseases and other salt-related health problems.

For more information visit www.awash.org.au