Hidden salt in popular foods putting kids at risk

London, Jan 28 (UNI) Your kids might just love to eat those noodles, baked beans and sausages, but hidden salt content of many of these popular foods puts them at risk of high blood pressure and strokes in later life.

The campaign group Consensus Action on Salt and Health also found that some desserts too contain alarmingly high levels of salt.

Certain products contain virtually the entire daily limit of salt for a six-year-old in a single serving, according to the research.

Prof MacGregor of Cardiovascular Medicine at St George's Hospital in South London, said, ''It's not just higher blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes that are caused by a high salt diet. Too much salt is also linked with stomach cancer and osteoporosis and can aggravate the symptoms of asthma.'' ''If manufacturers really cannot reduce the salt content in food eaten by children to reasonable levels, perhaps they should consider ceasing production,'' he added.

However, the Salt Association, which speaks for producers, said, ''Salt is essential for life and for good health.'' UNI XC SKB HS1541