In a thorough evaluation of supermarket ham and cheese sandwiches, our chef-tester found that nearly all products failed to meet expectations. The review, conducted with a focus on animal welfare, provenance, and processing, revealed a lack of transparency across the board. While some sandwiches claim to use British pork, the term offers little assurance regarding traceability, sustainability, or welfare. Others boast higher welfare standards without certification. Consequently, the best bargain and best overall are merely acceptable rather than exceptional.
Key Findings
Most sandwiches feature reformed ham, bulked with phosphates and water. However, a few higher-quality options use real ham—sliced meat without added water—and some are made with shredded ham hock. Every product contains additives. Flavour-wise, most are adequate for filling a hole, but a few stand out as moist, flavourful, and fresh. Notably, supermarkets are urged to butter bread instead of relying on mayonnaise.
Best Overall: M&S Honey-Roast Ham & Cheddar Cheese
Rated three stars, this sandwich features light brown oatmeal and malted barley bread with a double layer of ham and cheddar, spread with soft cheese and mayo. It is 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
Rated two stars, this thick doorstep sandwich uses malted bread filled with shredded ham hock, cheddar, spinach, mayo, and sweet chutney. It offers good value but lacks animal welfare data beyond British pork and contains additives.
Other Sandwiches Rated
- Waitrose Oak-Smoked Ham & Cheddar Cheese (3 stars): Sturdy malted bread with multiple layers of smoked ham, mature cheddar, and mayo. Seven additives, no welfare certification.
- Morrisons the Best Ham Hock & Farmhouse Cheddar (2 stars): Thick malted wheat bread with pulled ham hock, cheddar, spinach, mayo, and fruit chutney. Handmade feel but no welfare details and five additives.
- Tesco Smoked Ham & Mature Cheddar (2 stars): Classic malted bread with beechwood-smoked ham, mayo, cheese, and mustard. Six additives and palm oil; no welfare info.
- Asda Oak-Smoked Ham and Cheese (1 star): Standard malted bread with cheddar, ham, and mayo. Subtle smokiness, dry bread. Several additives, no welfare details.
- Morrisons Smoked Ham & Cheese (1 star): Utilitarian sandwich with sparsely filled malted bread, subtly smoked ham, cheddar, and mayo. Five additives, zero welfare information.
- Sainsbury's Smoked Ham & Cheddar (1 star): Malted bread with wafer-thin ham, cheddar, and mayo. Four additives, no welfare details.
- Co-op Ham & Cheese Sandwich (1 star): Fresh malted bread with British oak-smoked ham, cheddar, and mayo. Overpriced and underwhelming with six additives.
- Unearthed Spanish Serrano Ham & Cheese Rosca (0 stars): A cook-at-home sourdough doughnut with scant ham, bacon, cheese, and tomato sauce. Elaborately awful and inedible. Five additives.
For more, read the best supermarket breakfast teabags.
