Cutting down salt in bread and cereals in OZ has been welcomed by a health group, which has been lobbying for less salt in the Australian food supply. The group has stated that it is 'just the start'.

The Australian Division of World Action on Salt and Health (AWASH) said that the step being taken to reduce salt content in foods here less stringent than similar moves overseas.

Professor Bruce Neal, AWASH Chair and Senior Director at The George Institute for International Health said, "We've got to hope that this is just the start. In the UK and the US negotiations between government, industry and scientists have already established maximum acceptable salt levels for more than 85 categories of processed and fast foods."

The deal is that any product over a specified limit o cut down on its salt content.

Presently in OZ bread sold contains up to 525 milligrams of salt per 100 grams.

Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals makers have stated that they would reduce the salt content by 15 per cent.

Neal said, "It's also worth noting that the targets for bread and breakfast cereals are less stringent than those set overseas and we need to understand why this is."

An excess intake of salt has been linked to osteoporosis, gastric cancer, heart problems, stroke, and an elevated blood pressure.