SHOPPERS should boycott processed foods that still contain "unnecessary" amounts of salt, a campaign group said today.

Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash) wants consumers to buy lower-salt alternatives, which are better for their health.

The campaign group says that many products are still too salty, despite progress made by the food industry.

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Its analysis of 127 goods previously "named and shamed" for being too salty shows that manufacturers have reduced the salt content of 66% of items.

Cash now wants shoppers to use their buying power to support lower-salt products.

It advises them not to buy bread containing more than 1.25g of salt per 100g because lower-salt alternatives are readily available.

Congratulations

The campaign group's chairman, Professor Graham MacGregor, congratulated Birds Eye, New Covent Garden Soups, Heinz and supermarket chains for their progress.

"This proves that lower-salt versions can be developed, and we must now support the lower-salt products and vote with our feet when it comes to the ones that have not been reformulated or still contain unnecessarily high amounts of salt," he said.

One of the food products highlighted by Cash as having a high salt content is Unilever Peperami Sticks with around 4.0g of salt per 100g.

But Unilever said it has given its Peperami sticks a new formula and that from today sticks with a salt content reduced to 3.6g per 100g will be available to retailers.

A company spokesman said: "Unliver is committed to its salt reduction programme and has further plans toi reduce levels as part of this initiative."

A Tesco spokesperson said: "We are committed to reducing the levels of salt in our products and are concerned that CASH may have looked at old products that have now been reformulated as the figures that they are giving are incorrect.

"Our Stay Fresh Wholemeal Bread actually contains 0.9g salt per 100g, not 1.5g and our Finest Tomato and Mascarpone Sauce contains 0.9g salt per 100g not 2.3g. Our crumpets contain 1.9g salt per 100g and we are currently working hard to reduce this."

Eating too much salt can lead to high blood pressure, which in turn is linked to increased risks of strokes and heart attacks.

The Association of Cereal Food Manufacturers says that the major manufacturers have cut the salt content of cereals by an average 38% between 1998 and 2006, to an average 0.36g per 100g.

The Food Standards Agency says that adults should eat no more than six grams of salt a day, but consumers eat on average around 9.5g.

Cash has produced a list of products it says should be avoided by buying alternatives made by different manufacturers.

Its list of products to avoid:

* Sainsbury's Oat & Bran Flakes (2.4g salt per 100g);

* Tesco Stayfresh Wholemeal Bread (1.5g salt per 100g);

* Dairylea Dunkers Twists (2.3g salt per 100g);

* Quaker Salt and Vinegar Snack-a-Jacks (5.1g salt per 100g);

* Unilever Peperami Sticks (around 4.0g salt per 100g);

* Tesco/Sainsbury's Crumpets (2.0g salt per 100g);

* Tesco Finest Tomato and Mascarpone Sauce (2.3g salt per 100g);

* Seeds of Change Creamy Tomato Soup (3.9g salt per 350g serving);

* Bachelors Minestrone Cup a Soup with Croutons made with 230ml water (2.4g salt per portion);

* Dairylea Cheese, Slices, Light (2.3g salt per 100g).

Cash recommends the following products instead because they contain less salt per 100g:

* Nestle Shredded Wheat (trace salt per 100g);

* Sainsbury's I Stay Fresher for Longer Wholemeal Bread (0.9g salt per 100g);

* M&S Cool Cheesy Dippers (0.8g salt per 100g);

* Unsalted crisps / Applesnapz fruit and vegetable crisps (trace salt per 100g);

* Sainsbury's Tikka Chicken Breast Slices (0.4g salt per 100g);

* M&S Classic Crumpets (0.9g salt per 100g) or Tesco Value Teacakes (0.8g salt per 100g);

* Tesco Italian Tomato and Mascarpone Sauce (1.0g salt per 100g);

* New Covent Garden Food Co Plum Tomato and Basil Soup (0.6g salt per 300g serving);

* Sainsbury's Soup in a Cup with croutons made with 200ml water (1.2g salt per portion);

* Tesco cheese spread (0.8g salt per 100g).