The health authorities intend to hold talks with bread makers to reduce the salt content in Maltese bread, the parliamentary secretary for health, Chris Fearne said.

In comments to Times of Malta, he said that almost half of those aged 70 had high blood pressure. The figure among adults was also high at 23 per cent.

One of the causes of high blood pressure was the salt content in one's diet. While it was difficult to eliminate salt from food, one could at least avoiding adding more salt, Mr Fearne said. 

A Health Systems Performance Assessment had analysed a large number of food products. A staple of the Maltese diet - bread - had a significant amount of salt content and the authorities therefore intended to hold talks with the industry to reduce this salt content, he said. 

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