The amount of salt in leading brands of bread has come under scrutiny once again after a new alert from health campaigners.

Consensus Action on Salt & Health said a survey of 294 brands found that one in four loaves contained as much salt in a single slice as a packet of crisps. The group, comprised of UK medical practitioners, called for warnings to be included on all types of bread.

However, industry figures have questioned the timing of the attack.

Just last week the Food & Drink Federation launched a tender process to identify research facilities that could help the trade meet its salt reduction commitments made in the government’s Responsibility Deal on public health.

The deal saw targets set in 2008 – most of which were hit by last year – upgraded to help cut consumers’ intake of salt by 1g a day.