A survey by bone broth creators Freja found the UK loves stock cubes for their convenience and taste but few realise they contain mostly salt and additives.

According to a new survey by bone broth makers Freja, more than half the UK population (54%) uses processed stock in their cooking and the stock cube rules, with 64% admitting it’s their number one method of adding flavour. However, 79% of Brits underestimate the amount of salt that stock cubes contain and few know about the lesser-known additives.

Only 5% of those who participated in the Freja survey knew that a stock cube can contain up to 50% salt. The majority (45%) believed that stock cubes contain 10% salt while 34% thought it was 20% and 16% opted for a salt content of 30%.

The recommended daily salt intake for an adult is 6g while children under one should consume less than 1g but the survey showed that people overestimate how much salt is good for you. Those in the 18 - 29 bracket believed that 8.7g was the recommended daily allowance for adults and few realised that children under one should eat less than 1g - the average figure given was 2.5g which is two and a half times the recommended limit.

“Stock cubes are packed with processed ingredients with salt being the major ingredient,” says Jess Higgins who co-founded Freja with her husband Ed.

“One of the most popular stock cubes on the market today contains no actual stock and is heavily flavoured with monosodium glutamate and other artificial flavours. Most contain no real meat at all.”

Just 21% of those surveyed knew that stock cubes contain MSG, 15% correctly identified acidity regulator as an ingredient, 15% realised that they contain palm oil and only 5% knew that they sometimes contain Disodium 5-ribonucleotides a flavour enhancer that can cause allergic reactions in some people.

7% of those surveyed believed that stock cubes contain collagen, a protein essential for healthy skin and joints when they don’t contain any.

“Stock should be rich in collagen, protein and amino acids. It was originally made by making a broth from meat bones, but commercially available stocks have a poor nutritional profile with no functional benefits (such as collagen or protein), a lack of focus on sustainability as well as various allergens and a high salt content,” says Freja co-founder Ed Armitage.

56% of those surveyed use highly processed stock because it is quick and easy, 47% because it enhances flavour and 44% because their parents and carers used it.

Now Freja is urging Brits to ditch highly processed and artificial stock in favour of their Instant Bone Broth, stock cube alternative made with natural ingredients - bone broth powder, natural yeast extract, natural flavourings, dried herbs and vegetables. It’s as convenient as a stock cube and gives food a full-bodied meaty flavour, naturally.

Each pack of four 15g sachets that come in a box of Instant Bone Broth (chicken or beef), has the following benefits:

• Natural source of collagen: Beef 7g per serving (Types I and III) and chicken 6g collagen per serving (Type II)

• High in protein - up to 11g per serving

• Low calorie - 56 kcal per serving (beef) and 52 kcal per serving (chicken)

• Gluten and dairy-free

• Only 0.8g salt per serving

• All 9 essential amino acids

• Gut-friendly nutrition

• Magnesium, potassium & sodium

• Reduces inflammation (glycine and arginine) Aids sleep (glycine)

• Helps you to maintain a healthy weight (protein and electrolytes including potassium, sodium and magnesium)

Freja Instant Beef Bone Broth and Instant Chicken Bone Broth retails at £5.99, for 4x 15g sachets. It can be used to replace stock cubes by adding 500ml of water or you can add 250ml of water to make a savoury drink. The sachets can be stored for up to a year. Find out more here

Husband and wife team Jess Leather and Ed Armitage founded Freja in 2020. They spotted a gap in the market for an alternative to the ultra-processed stock cube. They spent months sourcing and perfecting the ultimate store-cupboard-friendly bone broth: Packed with nutrition, great tasting, long shelf life, and responsibly sourced – the original superfood conveniently packaged for modern life.

Initially called Take Stock, the first batch sold out in weeks. They’ve since sold over 5 million units of Freja Bone Broth, and won numerous awards - their investors include England football captain Harry Kane MBE and Olympian gold medallist Alistair Brownlee MBE, Former Managing Director of Innocent Giles Brook and Ex CEO of Unilever Paul Polman.