'Hidden' salt is damaging health

Salt added at home is a small part of what is consumed

Many Britons are unaware they are risking their health by consuming too much salt, according to a charity.

Consensus Action on Salt and Health is demanding action on the levels of "hidden" salt in processed foods like bread, cereal and ready-made meals.

Too much salt has been linked to higher than average blood pressure, which can increase the risk of heart disease or stroke.

Salt intake has increased beyond recommended levels in recent years.

Professor Graham MacGregor, chair of Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash), said: "The weapons of mass destruction in this country are salt, fat and sugar. They kill hundreds of thousands of people a year prematurely."

People might be unaware of the amount of salt they are actually eating, and the risks they are putting themselves at from suffering a stroke Margaret Goose, Stroke Association

The issues are being discussed during National Salt Awareness Day on Wednesday.

A meeting at the House of Commons will hear from public health minister Melanie Johnson, chair of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Sir John Krebs, and Deirdre Hutton, chair of the National Consumer Council.

Cash said it was particularly concerned that around three-quarters of all salt consumed is contained in processed foods.

Children's diets

These range from bread and breakfast cereals to bacon, soup and stock cubes.

The amount added to food at home accounts for a small percentage of salt consumed.

The FSA recommends adults and children over the age of 11 consume no more than six grams of salt a day.

But studies show consumption for men has increased from 10.1g a day in 1987 to 11g in 2001, while for women it has gone from 7.7g a day to 8.1g, said Cash.

In May 2003 FSA found children's diets often contain more than the recommended limit.

Margaret Goose, chief executive of The Stroke Association, said: "Most people are not aware that food such as bread, biscuits and cereal contain large amounts of salt, as do soups and ready-made meals.

"This 'hidden salt' means that people might be unaware of the amount of salt they are actually eating, and the risks they are putting themselves at from suffering a stroke as a result."

The BBC's consumer affairs correspondent Nicola Carslaw said bread manufacturers and the major supermarkets say they have already cut the amount of salt added to their own brands.

But health professionals say all food manufacturers must take further action.