MedWire News: Parents in the UK are being advised to monitor their children's salt intake, following research showing that some foods marketed at children contain up to half the recommended daily salt limit for a 6-year old in a single serving.

A diet high in salt is a recognised risk factor for high blood pressure, which, in turn, increases a person's risk of developing heart disease and other cardiovascular disorders.

The UK Government's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition recommends that children aged between 4 and 6 years should eat no more than 3 g of salt a day - half the adult limit - while those between 1 and 3 years should eat no more than 2g a day.

But researchers from the charity Consensus Action on Salt and Health found that many pre-prepared and processed foods, many of which are aimed at children, contain high levels of salt.

The team found that some pizzas, beef burgers, baked beans, sausage rolls, chicken meals and cheese snacks produced for children's lunch boxes contain up to two thirds of the recommended daily intake of salt for young children. One noodle-based product contained more than 4 g of salt per portion.

And high salt levels were not just restricted to savoury foods. Indeed, some brands of sweet puddings contained more than 1 g of salt per serving.

Professor Graham MacGregor, chairman of Consensus Action on Salt and Health and Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at St George's Hospital in London, said: "Keeping children's salt consumption below the recommended maximum limits is vital.

"Research published just last year showed that children who eat higher salt diets have higher blood pressure than children who eat less salt. It is also well established that blood pressure tracks into adulthood. That is, the higher the blood pressure in childhood, the higher the blood pressure in adulthood.

"With everything we know about the dangers of eating too much salt, parents need as much information as possible about how much salt is contained in the foods they give to their children, and food manufacturers need to do as much as they can to reduce the amount of salt they add to foods that are eaten by children."

However, previous research has shown that parents are often confused by nutritional labels on food packaging, with many products detailing their salt content in terms of sodium - 1 g of sodium is equal to 2.5 g of salt.

Betty McBride, from the British Heart Foundation commented: "This research shows alarming levels of salt hidden in some foods. Shoppers' problems are compounded by confusing food labelling that can make it difficult to quickly choose lower salt options for their families at the supermarket.

"We know that traffic light labelling is key to making food choices easier for shoppers. It would allow busy parents to tell at a glance whether food they select is low, medium or high in salt and help them make healthier food choices."

"This [research] must be a red light moment for food manufacturers, let's get colour coded labels on food packs now."