BANGERS AND CASH
Sausages only have to contain 32 per cent meat according to government guidelines but if a shop wants to label it as a "pork sausage" then it needs 42 per cent pork
SAUSAGES on supermarket shelves contain just 38 per cent pork, new research has revealed.
Iceland's Frozen Plumtree Farms Value, which cost £2 for a pack of 40, have been revealed at the shop with the least pork - just 38 per cent, according to research by The Sun and comparison website MoneyGuru.
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This is a fraction above the the lowest amount of meat that a banger is allowed to contain in the UK (32 per cent), according to government guidelines.
The other 62 per cent is packed with "filling" ingredients such as water, flour and preservatives.
Iceland's sausages were followed by household favourite favourite Richmond sausages. The bangers market themselves as "pork sausages" but only contain 42 per cent - the lowest amount that is required for banger to carry the pork label.
Just over half of a Sainsbury's pork sausages and Asda's Farm Stores pork sausages contains the pig meat (51 per cent), while the second cheapest sausage we looked at, Aldi's Everyday essentials British pork sausages, contains 52 per cent.
And just because you pay more for your sausage doesn't mean that you're always getting more meat for your money.
The most expensive sausages we looked at are the Waitrose British Gourmet pork sausages, costing £3.29 a pack, they contain 84 per cent pork meat, compared to Aldi's specially selected outdoor bred traditional sausages, which cost £1.89 for a pack of the same size, and cost £1.89.
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Five supermarket sausages contain 97 per cent pork meat which is the most we found in our research, including ones from Aldi, Heck, Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Tesco.
Spokespeople for Sainsbury's and Asda pointed out that they offer a wide range of sausages for customers to chose from and that the pork content is displayed on the packaging.
A spokesperson for Iceland pointed out that Plumtree Farms sausages are not an Iceland own label product.
They said: "They are a branded entry level product offering exceptional value and their pork content is comparable with, or higher than, that of similar level entry products sold by other retailers. They receive an overall four star rating from customers on our website."
A spokesperson for Richmond sausages said: "A lower meat content does not equal a lower quality product and we are proud to offer choice for consumers who prefer a smoother, less coarsely cut sausage."
The Sun contacted Aldi for comment.
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You may also be shocked to know that our supermarket burger may only contain 62 per cent meat - the other 38 per cent is packed with water, onion and flour.
We looked into how much meat is really in your beef burgers and the result may surprise you.
Last year,we revealed how your sausage roll may only contain 42 per cent meat.
Tesco's basic fish fingers actually have more cod in them than Birds Eye and Young's - and they're half the price.
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