Excessive salt intake is claiming the lives of up to 1,000 Ulster people every year, a leading charity has claimed.
Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke said salty diets accounts for a quarter of stroke and a fifth of heart deaths in the province.
Its comments followed the publication of a British Medical Journal study examining the link between salt an
d high blood pressure.
"Food manufacturers must make a commitment to their customers that they will consistently, over a period of time, slash the salt in products," said NICHS chief executive Andrew Dougal.
He said heart disease was the biggest killer in Northern Ireland, claiming 4,000 deaths every year.
Stroke is the third largest, accounting for 1,500 deaths, not to mention the disabilities suffered by many who survive.
The Medical Journal study found that people who significantly reduced the amount of salt in their diet cut their chances of developing cardiovascular disease by 25% over 10 to 15 years.
Researchers say the risk of dying drops by 20%.
The findings are based on the results of trials on 3,126 people.
A US research team from Boston found that people who cut back on salt tended to keep to a low salt diet in the long-term.
The recommended intake of salt is no more than six grams a day.
Mr Dougal said the responsibility lay with food companies to reduce the amount of salt in their products.
"Three quarters of the salt which we eat is already in the food we purchase," he explained.
"Food manufacturers must ensure that an easily understood system of food labelling empowers shoppers to make healthy eating choices."
