A recent survey by bone broth company Freja has highlighted how little many Brits know about the high salt content in their beloved stock cubes. The survey, conducted with 1,000 participants in December 2024, found that while 54% of the UK population uses processed stock in their cooking, only 5% of respondents were aware that stock cubes can contain up to 50% salt.
The survey reveals a significant gap in understanding, with the majority of participants underestimating just how much salt is present in these convenience products. While 45% of respondents believed stock cubes contained just 10% salt, a further 34% thought the figure was 20%, and 16% estimated it at 30%.
The results underscore a lack of awareness about how much salt is considered safe for consumption. The recommended daily intake for adults is 6g of salt, yet young people, particularly those aged between 18-29, tended to overestimate the recommended allowance, with many believing it to be 8.7g. In fact, the survey showed that children under the age of one should consume less than 1g of salt daily — a figure that the majority of respondents failed to grasp.
Jess Higgins, co-founder of Freja, highlighted the health concerns of relying on stock cubes, noting that they are “packed with processed ingredients, with salt being the major ingredient.” Many of the most popular stock cubes on the market today contain no actual stock at all, relying heavily on artificial flavours such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) to create the desired taste.
Indeed, just 21% of respondents correctly identified that stock cubes contain MSG, while only 15% knew they also included acidity regulators and palm oil. Even more concerning, just 5% of respondents were aware that stock cubes may contain Disodium 5-ribonucleotides, a flavour enhancer that can cause allergic reactions in some individuals.
Additionally, 7% of those surveyed mistakenly believed that stock cubes contained collagen, a protein known for its benefits for skin and joints. In reality, most commercially available stock cubes have little nutritional value, lacking the essential collagen and protein found in traditional bone broths.
Despite these health concerns, 56% of respondents cited convenience as the main reason for using highly processed stock, while 47% said it enhanced the flavour of their dishes. Freja, however, is urging the public to reconsider their use of these products in favour of a more natural alternative: Instant Bone Broth.
Freja’s Instant Bone Broth, which comes in both beef and chicken varieties, is designed to replace traditional stock cubes. Made with natural ingredients such as bone broth powder, yeast extract, herbs, and vegetables, it offers a meaty flavour without the excessive salt content. Each serving contains 7g of collagen (beef) or 6g (chicken), up to 11g of protein, and only 0.8g of salt.
The Instant Bone Broth is gluten and dairy-free, providing gut-friendly nutrition with essential amino acids and electrolytes. Freja is hoping to promote this healthier alternative as a convenient, yet more nutritious, option for UK consumers.
For more information, visit Freja’s website at https://www.freja.com.