Festive sandwiches sold on UK high streets contain as many calories as one and a half Big Macs, analysis shows.
Options sold at M&S, Starbucks and Pret can contain as much sugar as one and a half Krispy Kreme donuts and as much salt as 10 packets of Walkers crisps.
Sandwiches on offer this year include a Christmas dinner filled with slices of bread, pork in thick toasted sandwiches, and brie and cranberry baguettes.
MailOnline’s review found the worst offender – Asda’s Festive Feast Wrap – contained 824 calories. And that’s before you add a drink or snack.
It contains turkey, sausage, smoked bacon, stuffing, mayo and cranberry chutney.
A Christmas dinner tucked between slices of bread, pigs in thick toasted sandwiches and brie and cranberry baguettes are just some of the delicious options offered by M&S, Starbucks and Pret. But while the holidays are often thought of as a time of indulgence, some may be shocked to discover that these lunch options are just as full of sugar as a Krispy Kreme donut and a half.
For comparison, a McDonald’s Big Mac contains 493 calories.
As a guideline, men should consume no more than 2,500 calories per day. For women, it is recommended to stay at 2,000 or less.
The full results of MailOnline’s research, covering more than 60 festive sandwiches, wraps and baguettes, are published in a fascinating table where you can search for your favorite lunch option.
Pret’s Christmas Lunch Baguette, filled with turkey, cranberry sauce, pork stuffing and crispy onions, was the second worst offender at 702.
Baguettes usually contain more calories than sandwiches, partly because the portions are larger.
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Christmas Cracker Club sandwich, packed with chicken, bacon, stuffing and chutney and made with three slices of bread, contained 661 calories – more than three Kit Kat Chunky bars.
Asda’s Festive Feast Wrap, on the other hand, topped the list with the highest salt content and was also the highest in calories. It contains 3.7 g, more than the daily recommended amount of salt for half an adult.
Adults are recommended to stick to less than 6 grams per day. Children should eat even less.
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Consuming too much salt can raise blood pressure by increasing the amount of water the body retains, which puts additional pressure on the walls of blood vessels. Over time, this can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Caffè Nero’s Pigs Under Blankets Panini, filled with pork sausages, smoked bacon, cheddar cheese and a balsamic onion chutney, was the second worst offender at 3.5 grams – the equivalent of 10 bags of ready-to-eat Walker’s salted chips.
M&S’s Jingle Brie-LT, on the other hand, contained 3.4 grams per serving.
Even though lunch is a savory option, MailOnline’s review found that some snacks contained almost twice as much sugar as sweet snacks.
What should a balanced diet look like?
- Eat at least 5 servings of varied fruits and vegetables every day. All fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruits and vegetables count;
- Basic meals with potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, preferably whole grains;
- 30 grams of fiber per day: This is equivalent to eating all of the following: 5 servings of fruit and vegetables, 2 whole grain cereal crackers, 2 thick slices of whole grain bread, and a large baked potato with skin on;
- Provide some dairy products or milk alternatives (eg soy drinks) and choose low-fat and low-sugar options.
- Eat beans, legumes, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins (including 2 portions of fish per week, one of which should be fatty);
- Choose unsaturated oils and spreads and consume them in small amounts;
- Drink 6-8 cups/glasses of water a day;
- Adults should consume less than 6 grams of salt and 20 grams of saturated fat for women and 30 grams for men per day.
Source: NHS Eatwell Guide
One of the worst offenders is M&S’s Christmas Club sandwich, which contains 20.2 grams of sugar.
For comparison: a Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Donut has 12 g.
Topped with chicken, maple bacon, cranberry chutney, stuffing, spinach, pickled red cabbage and mayo sauce, the sandwich is also one of the highest calorie options at 623 calories.
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Christmas Cracker Club Sandwich also clocked in at 19 grams of sugar per serving.
Meanwhile, Pret’s Christmas nut roast sandwich contained 17.4 grams of sugar – although it could be considered healthier because it is meat-free.
Eating too much sugar can lead to weight gain and tooth decay over time.
NHS guidelines set the maximum daily intake at 30 grams of free sugar per day or 210 grams per week.
NHS sugar limits only apply to free sugars – the sugars added to products – and not to the sugars naturally found in milk, fruit and vegetables. Some of the sugar content in festive sandwiches comes from natural sources.
In addition to the limit of 30 grams of free sugar per day, the government recommends that this sugar should not make up more than 5 percent of the calories a person consumes daily through food and drink.
Dr Duane Mellor, a registered dietitian and lecturer at Aston University, told MailOnline that many people think of a sandwich as a “sandwich”.Snacks or light meal.
He said: “So it’s worth remembering that almost all of these festive offerings can contain more calories than a ready-made version of spaghetti bolognese or chilli.”
“If you want to eat such a sandwich, it is important not to add any extras such as mince pies or coffee with syrup.
“Treat yourself instead with a portion of fruit and regular tea or coffee with a splash of milk or water if you want to add something to your sandwich.”
The shockingly high sugar content in the sandwiches is probably due to the sauces in the sandwiches, said Dr. Mellor.
In the meantime, people should be aware that eating one of these sandwiches can yield more more than half of their daily recommended salt intake, he added.
A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “We are committed to providing choice, quality and value and to clearly labeling our products with nutritional information to help our customers make informed decisions about the products they want to buy.”
An M&S spokesperson said: “Our festive sandwiches are a special treat we stock for the weeks leading up to Christmas when we know customers want to try something different.”
“They complement our normal range of sandwiches, sushi and salads, many of which carry our Eet Goed badge, making it easy for you to discover healthy options.”
“Customers who choose our holiday sandwiches will not only receive a delicious limited edition lunch, but will also help fight homelessness with 5 percent of all sales going to Shelter.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
