Cheers to cheese

All too often, food and drink manufacturers face wild swings in media attitudes towards their products because of controversy over new research by campaign groups. Consumers end up at best confused, at worst cynical, about real benefit or real concern.

Last month it was ingredients in energy drinks. This month it’s been salt in cheese.

The first punch was thrown by UK-based CASH – Consensus Action on Salt and Health – which analysed no less than 772 supermarket cheeses and found that cheese was the third biggest contributor to salt in the British diet after bread and bacon.

Almost immediately, the UK Dairy Council hit back with the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, which states that cheese accounts for no more than 4% of dietary salt intake.

Honourably, CASH returned to its corner, saying it was “incorrect and we apologise”.

Knockout. Happy Cheesemas.