Karen Bowerman: People don't realise how much salt they are eating

Health Minister Tessa Jowell has outlined the government's drive to reduce salt consumption, revealed in the Public Health White Paper, Our Healthier Nation.

But she needs the support of major supermarket chains.

Asda has already announced plans to reduce the amount of salt in some of its own brands by 15%, and the Co-op will follow suit today by launching a new "low-salt" range of products.

Professor Verner Wheelock, Nottingham University: Salt in processed food the main problem

Excessive salt consumption is linked with thousands of extra strokes and heart attacks each year.

The sodium it contains is known to increase blood pressure, although scientists do not know exactly why.

Professor Graham MacGregor, a specialist in high blood pressure who is convenor of pressure group Consensus Action on Salt and Hypertension, said that any moves by the Co-op would be significant, particularly as they tended to serve less affluent communities, in which poorer diet and cardiovascular problems were both more common.

Thousands could be saved

He said: "If we could reduce the amount of salt in our diets by 30%, it would cut out 40,000 strokes a year, and give major health benefits.

Some supermarkets are offering lower-salt products

"One of the concepts behind this meeting is to get the major retailers moving to reduce salt content."

One of the arguments put forward by food manufacturers is that reduced-salt food will not taste as good.

There are also commercial concerns a less salty diet will reduce the demand for drinks.

The Co-op "LoSalt" range, which is being extended to 500 own-brand products, substitutes other minerals for the sodium.

John Mathis, a Co-op spokesman, said: "Excessive salt intake has been linked to chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and strokes and the government is looking for the industry to act in reducing salt levels in food.

"As a responsible retailer, we're working hard to get the message across to the consumer."