UK salt consumption needs to reduce to avoid increased risk of heart disease and stroke, the public health minister has warned.
Public health minister Anna Soubry has launched a major drive to help reduce the amount of salt consumed by a quarter, including setting targets with food companies.
According to the Department of Health, research has shown more than half the public rarely or never consider the amount of salt when buying food, yet 86% are aware too much salt is bad for health.
Soubry said: "The UK is world-leading in salt reduction but more needs to be done to reach our goal of no more than 6g a day. This is because eating too much salt can have a serious impact on people's health - causing high blood pressure, which could lead to heart disease and stroke."
Dr Susan Jebb, chair of the Responsibility Deal Food Network, said reducing salt consumption was essential to prevent "many thousands" of premature deaths each year from stroke and heart disease.
The DoH's Salt Strategy, as part of its Responsibility Deal, includes; revising 2012 salt targets; pushing the catering and take away sector to do more; asking companies to help people choose lower salt options; and getting more companies across the food industry to sign up to salt reduction.
