Salt awareness information will be at Staffordshire libraries and children's centres

Look out for the hidden danger in children's food

Staffordshire County Council is joining in with a national campaign to warn of a hidden danger in children's food

Libraries and children's centres throughout the county are marking National Salt Awareness Week.

The focus is to make parents aware of how much salt their children are eating. Young children, aged 4-6, should eat no more than three grams of salt per day, but a lot of foods aimed specifically at kids contain high salt levels. That's why parents are being advised to carefully check food labels to check their salt intake.

National Salt Awareness Week is run by Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash).

Councillor Carol Dean, Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities said: "We know that the affects of salt on our health starts in childhood. Children who eat more salt have higher blood pressure than children who eat less salt.

"If nothing is done to lower their salt intake, this rise in blood pressure continues into adult life and increases the risk of developing strokes and heart attacks. Parents who want to give their children the best possible start in life need to make sure they are not letting them eat too much salt."

Cash is working with the food industry and supermarkets to bring about a reduction in the amount of salt that is added to our food. Much has happened over the last few years and there are many plans to reduce salt even further, but the message still needs to get across, especially to those people who buy a lot of ready-made or processed foods and that a reduction in salt will bring a real health benefit.

During the week information will be available at:

Newcastle Children's Centre - all week
Cannock Children's Centre - Tuesday 29 January between 11.45am and 2pm
Heath Hayes Library - Friday 1 February between 9.30am and 10.30am
Tamworth Library - Friday 1February between 11am and 12noon
Newcastle Library - Wednesday 30 January between 10.30am and 11.30am
Lichfield Library - Friday 1 February between 10.30am and 11.30am

Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition recommended salt intakes for children and adults

Age	Target Average salt intake (g/day)
0-6 months	<1g
7-12 months	1g
1-3 years	2g
4-6 years	3g
7-10 years	5g
11-14 years	6g
Adults	6g

Page Last Modified: 25/01/2008 15:17:12

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