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NINETEEN MANUFACTURERS AGREE TO CUT SALT LEVELS BY 5-25% DEPENDING ON THE PRODUCT BETWEEN NOW AND 2012 NINETEEN of France's biggest food manufacturers have signed a deal with the
government promising to cut the amount of salt they use in products. Brands including Findus, McCain and Fleury-Michon are among those that have agreed to the recipe changes between now and
2012. Average salt content will fall between 5% and 25% depending on the product concerned. The reduction will be made gradually over the coming years to make the taste change less
noticeable to consumers. Other groups taking part in the scheme include soup manufacturer Maggi, cooking oil and vinaigrette brand Lesieur and cheesemaker P'tit Louis. The deal with
manufacturers is part of the health ministry's _Plan National Nutrition Santé_, which aims to cut individuals' average salt consumption to 6g a day. The average person has 8g a day
at present, down from 9.5g in 2002. According to the ministry, over-use of salt causes 25,000 premature deaths each year from heart disease and diabetes. Photo:DocEver - Fotolia.com