NEWS
6 ASIAN TRADER 4 APRIL 2025
Most of the 1,200 crisps,
nuts and popcorn snacks
sold in stores contain
such high levels of
“hidden salt” that they
fail to meet govern-
ment’s criteria for
healthier food, a new
report has warned,
raising alarm ahead of
October 2025 advertising
restrictions.
From October, there
will be a pre-9pm television
watershed on junk food
adverts, as well as a blanket
ban for online and social media
ads.
The Action on Salt and
Sugar research team, based at
Queen Mary University of
London, analysed sugar and
salt in nuts, crisps and
ready-to-eat popcorn on
supermarket shelves.
According to its report, one
in three bags of ready-to-eat
popcorn contain more salt
than a packet of cheese and
onion crisps.
Additionally, 77% of crisps,
56% of nuts and 88% of
popcorn would fall foul of
healthy eating criteria.
As well as often being too
salty, 42% of popcorn would
also receive a red warning label
for sugar content. The
worst ofender was
Morrisons Market Street
Tofee Flavour Popcorn
with 59.1g of sugar per
100g.
Crisps also continue to
include excessive levels of
salt, with one in three
products requiring a high
(red) salt warning label on
the front of the pack.
The report adds that
despite clear evidence that salt
reduction is both achievable
and necessary, only “eight
companies have fully met the
salt targets set for these
snacks, with a further four
achieving ≥95 per cent
compliance”. After four years,
9 companies still failed to
meet the targets in at least half
their portfolio, despite being
given four years to succeed.
Salty treats tempt government to think about regulations
‘Majority of snacks fail
‘Majority of snacks fail
health criteria’ – report
health criteria’ – report
The Employment Rights Bill
has passed all stages in the
House of Commons and will
now be considered in the
House of Lords.
The legislation seeks to
end unfair employment
practices.
The Bill will ban exploita-
tive zero-hours contract and
provide a right to a regular
hours contract, making
Statutory Sick Pay available
from day one of absence and
to all workers, regardless of
income.
Day-one access to
employment rights,
including challenging an
unfair dismissal, will be
granted while the bill
requires employers to
protect staf from customer
harassment.
The bill also gives trade
unions the right to access
workplaces, to recruit and
organise workers, simplify
the trade union recognition
process to give workers a
voice and introduce statuto-
ry rights for workplace
equalities representatives.
The bill will limit the use
of fire and rehire and create a
fair work agency to put
enforcement of employment
rights into a single body.
Commenting on the
progression of the bill, Paddy
Lillis – Usdaw general
secretary said, “Usdaw has
long campaigned for a new
deal for workers and the
Employment Rights Bill
delivers on that.
Employment Rights Bill passed
by House of Commons
InPost is new
InPost is new
Newstraid sponsor
Newstraid sponsor
The charity dedicated to supporting
individuals in the newspaper and
magazine industry during times of
financial and emotional hardship, has
welcomed InPost Newstrade as its
newest corporate sponsor.
The partnership follows InPost
Newstrade’s full acquisition of Menzies
Distribution, a company that had been
a steadfast supporter of NewstrAid for
over a century.
For over 185 years, NewstrAid has
provided essential help to those who
have worked in newspaper and
magazine sale and distribution,
ensuring they receive much needed
assistance during challenging times. In
2024it helped more than 1,500 people.
ShopMate partners with
ShopMate partners with
DNA Payments
DNA Payments
EPoS system ShopMate has inaugu-
rated a partnership with DNA
Payments, a provider of advanced
payment solutions.
Through this strategic partner-
ship, ShopMate enhances its
support for retailers by integrating
a seamless and efcient payment
solution into its EPOS system,
ShopMate Pay. ShopMate Pay will
be available to existing and new
ShopMate customers who will
benefit from a unified approach for
all their payment and EPOS needs.
“This allows us to deliver a
payment solution that’s efcient
and adaptable to the needs of
independent retailers.” said Brian
Eagle-Brown, ShopMate MD.
Persistent South Tyne-
Persistent South Tyne-
side shoplifter jailed
side shoplifter jailed
A persistent shoplifter targeting
stores in Northumbria is now behind
bars after stealing from a South
Tyneside store just weeks after being
handed a suspended sentence for the
same ofences. Northumbria Police
said Michael Wright, 35, had visited
the Co-op store on Mortimer Road in
South Shields and took laundry
products without paying. Less than a
month earlier, Wright was given a
14-week suspended sentence by
South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court for
stealing chicken from the same Co-op
store, and toiletries from the
Sainsbury’s on Prince Edward Road.