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National Salt Awareness Day
29 January 2003

CASH (Consensus Action on Salt and Health) are making salt and children’s diets the main campaign thrust this year. Children were chosen as their diets are very high in salt and despite requiring less salt than adults, the type of food eaten by kids mean that their diet is as salty as adults. This has potential immediate health implications for children, such as possibly failing to achieve peak bone mass, as well as longer term health consequences such as high blood pressure and stroke.

CASH aim to highlight the potential health consequences of the type of diet eaten by today’s children, demonstrate where this salt comes from in children’s diets and offer suggestions on improving their diet.

Health professionals throughout the country will be encouraged to put on their own events for Salt Awareness Day, using the numerous resources that are being developed to promote healthier lower salt eating in children. Included in the resources will be a recipe booklet which is being written by Annabel Karmel, leading author on children’s nutrition.

The day will be marked by a media event at the House of Commons with journalists, MPs, representatives from the major supermarkets etc. being invited. It will be hosted by labour MP for St Albans, Kerry Pollard and include guest speaker Annabel Karmel. At the event, CASH hope to highlight the steps taken by the food industry, caterers and supermarkets to make food eaten by children less salty.. CASH are currently undertaking a survey in schools on children’s attitudes and knowledge about salt. The results will be released for Salt Awareness Day.

For further information and resources contact:

CASH, Blood Pressure Unit,
St George’s Hospital Medical School
Cranmer Terrace, London
SW17 ORE

Tel 020 8725 2409
Email cash@sghms.ac.uk
Website www.hyp.ac.uk/cash

Health Education Trust
18 High Street / Broom / Alcester / Warwickshire / B50 4HJ
enquiries @HealthEdTrust.com / For Joe Harvey: het@joeharvey.fsnet.co.uk