A new survey has found that high street salads might not be as healthy as they look as they contain salt more than a Big Mac would contain.

According to the Consensus Action on Salt (Cash) research, these salads exceed the recommended salt intake often.

Only six contained salt less than a packet of crisps out of the 270 salad and pasta bowls surveyed while a tenth exceeded the salt serving of more than 2.1g contained in a Big Mac burger.

Spicy crayfish noodles salad from Eat was the worst offended as it contained 3.51g of salt.

According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), for keeping blood pressure in check and for avoiding a stroke and other heart problems, an adult should stick to no more than 6g of salt a day, about a teaspoonful.

Seven of the 10 saltiest salads is sold by Marks & Spencer among the supermarkets and its Taste of Asia salad that contains 2.83g salt is the worst offender.

The study stated that a green traffic light label would be given to just 22 per cent of the salads that are called ‘healthy’.

Cash campaign manager Katharine Jenner said, “Many women choose salad as a healthy and convenient lunch, particularly when watching their waistline. But they do not pay attention to little details.”