A wholefood chef has put supermarket ham and cheese sandwiches to the test, with disappointing results. The review, which focused on animal welfare, provenance, and processing, found a lack of transparency across most products. While some claim to use British pork, the term offers little assurance regarding traceability, sustainability, or welfare standards. Others boast higher welfare without certification.
Most sandwiches feature reformed ham, bulked with phosphates and water, though a few use real ham or shredded ham hock. Despite additives in every product, some sandwiches were deemed moist, flavourful, and fresh. The chef also urged supermarkets to use butter instead of mayonnaise on bread.
Best Overall
M&S honey-roast ham & cheddar cheese (£3.25 at Ocado, ★★★☆☆): Light brown oatmeal and malted barley bread with a double layer of ham and cheddar, soft cheese, and mayo. The only product with clear welfare standards and the fewest additives (three). Contains palm oil.
Best Bargain
Aldi Specially Selected Ayrshire cured ham hock with farmhouse cheddar (£2.79 at Aldi, ★★☆☆☆): A thick, square-cut doorstep with shredded ham hock, cheddar, spinach, mayo, and sweet chutney. Meaty and good value, but lacks welfare data beyond British pork claim.
Other Sandwiches
Waitrose oak-smoked ham & cheddar cheese (£3.30, ★★★☆☆): Sturdy malted bread with multiple layers of smoked British formed ham, one slice of mature cheddar, and excess mayo. Seven additives, no welfare certification.
Morrisons the Best ham hock & farmhouse cheddar (£4.25, ★★☆☆☆): Thick malted wheat bread with pulled ham hock, cheddar, spinach, mayo, and chutney. Handmade feel but no welfare details and five additives.
Tesco smoked ham & mature cheddar (£2.75, ★★☆☆☆): Classic malted bread with beechwood-smoked formed ham, mayo, thin cheese, and mustard. Six additives and palm oil; no welfare info.
Asda oak-smoked ham and cheese (£2.75, ★☆☆☆☆): Standard malted brown bread with cheddar, medium oak-smoked formed ham, and mayo. Firm bite but dry bread and several additives.
Morrisons smoked ham & cheese (£3, ★☆☆☆☆): Sparsely filled malted bread with subtly smoked formed ham, mature cheddar, and thin mayo. Five additives, zero welfare info.
Sainsbury's smoked ham & cheddar (£3.10, ★☆☆☆☆): Malted brown bread with wafer-thin formed ham, good slice of cheddar, and mayo. Four additives, no welfare details.
Co-op ham & cheese sandwich (£3.45, ★☆☆☆☆): Fresh malted bread with British oak-smoked formed ham, mature cheddar, and thin mayo. Overpriced, underwhelming, six additives.
Unearthed Spanish serrano ham & cheese rosca (£4.50 at Waitrose, £5.50 at Tesco, ☆☆☆☆☆): A doughnut-shaped, cook-at-home pan de cristal sourdough with multiple additives, scant ham, smoked bacon, cheese, and tomato sauce. Described as elaborately awful and all but inedible. No welfare data, five additives.
