Dangerous levels of salt still present in some foods

Food Standards Officers have been sampling processed foods across the eastern region over the last five years to see whether they comply with the accepted national levels of salt.

The prime offender, recording more than double the levels of salt and sodium recommended by the Food Standards Agency for 2010, were dried noodle-based snack products.

Processed meats such as bacons and hams were also identified as containing levels of salt and sodium that were deemed above safe limits.

Another worrying result revealed by the survey were the levels of salt contained in Indian ready meals.

Analysis revealed that although the levels of salt and sodium in them was below the recommended level they had significantly increased over the last five years.

Councillor Tony Cox, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Public Protection, said he was concerned at the findings of the survey.

"Manufacturers should take this survey on board and reduce the amount of salt they include in their products in order to protect consumers as much as possible.

"It's important that we get out of the habit of adding salt to our food, but 75 per cent of the salt we eat already exists in the food we buy, so we need to be vigilant.

"Eating too much salt can raise your blood pressure and triple your risk of developing heart disease or stroke.

"Adults should eat no more than 6gs of salt a day - the equivalent of about a teaspoonful - and children should have even less."

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Food Team recommends that you look at the salt content on the labels of foods.

This will enable you to compare similar products and find out which is lower in salt content and work out how much salt will be in the portion you would eat.